This clip of actor Paul Mescal playing acoustic and singing his debut single Slip Away is making us emotional

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Irish actor Paul Mescal has debuted his first single, Slip Away – a short, quiet track that features him singing and playing acoustic guitar – as part of the soundtrack to the forthcoming film, Carmen.

Alongside the release is a simple clip showing Mescal performing the song, which appears to have been recorded in a live, off-the-cuff take – either that, or the studio has added some authentic, background hiss. 

Regardless, while it’s a short clip, Slip Away nonetheless hits you in the gut. Mescal, who was previously in a relationship with Phoebe Bridgers, seems to have learned a thing or two from the songwriter about nailing gently-picked acoustic performances.

Mescal performs with a capo on the third fret and we’re pretty sure that’s a Sigma JM-SG45 – which features a sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides – he’s using in the clip, though the headstock logo appears to have been obscured.

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The single is being hailed as Mescal’s musical debut. However, at the risk of being pedantic, Guitar World would like to point out that (according to Discogs) this is overlooking his contribution as a backing vocalist on Bridgers’ festive 2022 release, So Much Wine (Merry Christmas), so, err... completists should start there.

Carmen opened in cinemas this past weekend (April 21). The contemporary take on the story follows the fortunes of a young Mexican woman, Carmen (played by Melissa Barrera), who makes for the US border following the murder of her mother. 

She later meets Paul Mescal’s character, Aidan – a Marine coping with PTSD – after he intervenes to stop a murderous border guard. 

“Carmen and Aidan are forced to escape together,” runs the film’s synopsis. “They make their way north towards Los Angeles in search of Carmen’s mother’s best friend, the mercurial Masilda and owner of La Sombra nightclub – a sanctuary of music and dance… but time is running out as the police hunt closes in.”

Of course, Mescal is not the only actor to enjoy playing the guitar onscreen or off. He joins a list including Johnny Depp, Terrence Howard and Tim Robbins.