Do you guys know what time it is? It’s PART TIME (boooooooo).
Easy, y’all — “comedian” isn’t exactly on my resume. But I’m great at one thing: being the human embodiment of, “I have so many ideas, none of which I’ll finish today.”
I’ve got the energy of a jazz solo and the focus of a cat chasing a laser pointer. My brain is a nonstop mixtape of distractions — and honestly, I’m just trying to keep up without losing myself in the shuffle. At least I’m self-aware, and my to-do list has personality… if I remember to make one.
Most of what I plan boils down to three things: vacations, hangouts with friends and family, and concerts. Even then, most shows I attend are spontaneous. I try to live in the moment — even while writing this blog. No outlines, no plan. I open the computer, do some digging, and press buttons until I’m ready to say something.
When I started this post, I thought I’d have plenty to say. But Part Time… stumped me. Not a writer’s block or ADHD thing — there was simply no info. Anywhere. I had to dig deep just to find something worth mentioning.
Which is wild, because Lies in the Eyes of Love is a gem. So who is Part Time? Why does Wikipedia have the shortest page in history? Why is the iHeartRadio bio so bare-bones? Only one interview exists. The song has 3.4 million streams. And the guy has, like… three names?
Now I’m wide awake. Now I’m hooked. And I’m here to share what I found.
Freaks, welcome to The Mysteries of Part Time: ’80s synth pop from 2019.
As always, the first question is… how did I get here?!
David Speck? David Loca? Davida Loca and the Berkshire Hobbits?
WHAT?
When I first heard Part Time, I was in the car, as usual. Pleasure driving? Maybe… not really. My lower back was on fire, traffic testing my patience to toddler-rage levels, and all I could do was breathe through it — you know the drill.
Usually, I’m hyped on music, but sometimes the rotation just flops. When that happens, I hunt for something to jolt my senses — emotional, evocative, nostalgic, or just something fresh that grabs me instantly.
That day, I was listening to one of my favorite bands, Men I Trust — 10/10 band name for a 10/10 band. (They’ll get their own feature here soon.)
Then… bam. The synth hits. I think, “Wait… this must be an ’80s track I haven’t heard.” Instant hook.
When a song hits like that, I play it over and over… an hour later, still looping. And that’s nothing — I’ve always been this way. People ask how I remember so much about a song — keys, tempo, tiny details. Answer? I’m basically studying music all day. Softly listening to tunes 8–9 hours a day.
Some say it’s a problem. Others envy the skill. I call it neurodivergence.
I forget plenty of things, but songs? Never. Even one listen plants a memory; hearing it again floods the gates. I remember planets from Blue’s Clues, times tables and the Preamble thanks to Schoolhouse Rock. Music and rhythm are my memory keys.
Yeah, maybe my skills are useless… but they’re mine. And rare is the feeling when a new song hits with instant nostalgia — like I’ve known it forever… but I haven’t. Weird, but exhilarating. I needed to know more.
I clicked the Part Time page on YouTube Music. Lots of songs. Naturally, I Googled an Instagram page: “Part Time, band? Part Time music?” Tons of bands, but not the guy whose face I saw on YTM. Think… Bandcamp! Found a page — says, “Compiled by David Smith.” Who? No mention of Lies in the Eyes of Love.
Next move — YouTube video descriptions usually list socials. Checked YouTube.
Now I’m staring at the “Part Time – Lies in the Eyes of Love” YouTube page. Channel name? David Dean Burkhart. Wait… what? The channel has a million subscribers but is packed with other people’s music — no Part Time, no David. Cue mini panic: did I stumble on an AI ghost artist?
I Googled “David Smith Part Time” and finally hit gold — an interview titled Q&A: Davida Loca of Part Time, 91.7 Indie Overnight, Trinity University, 2018. Here’s the skinny:
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He’s released six albums, mostly lo-fi bedroom recordings, but recently stepped into a real studio for Spell #6.
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David has multiple projects and names, and apparently “David Speck” is a mistaken identity.
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Part Time started as a side project but quickly became his main gig.
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He’s hands-on with his music videos, blending DIY grit with some professional polish.
Sounds like he wanted it this way. As a research nerd, I love that mystery — an artist who doesn’t care about being found. Those meant to find him, will.
Sorry, David, Loca, Mr. Smith — I’m putting you on blast because your stuff is too good not to share. Mr. Part Time’s got a few side hustles under different names. Curiouser and curiouser. I had a blast chasing this puzzle down — and I might still have missed a piece or two.
Now that you’ve got the backstory, let’s dive into the track.
She Tells My Eyes…Lies
Alright, let’s talk structure — which I don’t usually do, because I like my words to land for everyone, not just musicians. But this one deserves it.
The “bass” — almost certainly a keyboard/synth — isn’t complicated. Actually, most of what’s happening here is delightfully simple.
But here’s the magic: it’s all about the layers. Everything locks into place with an unwavering groove. The snare snaps cleanly on 2 and 4, and — though it’s subtle — I swear the kick drum shadows the bassline. It’s a tiny choice, but it’s chef’s kiss.
First listen? You catch the vibe. By the fifth or sixth? You’re swimming in it. Doubled vocals wrap around you, his gentle delivery sinking into your chest, little background “breaths” giving it life. And then — those high-pitched, ethereal plinks and plunks of whatever synth he’s using — and BOOM, the sax solo hits. Out of nowhere. Perfect. Just perfect.
This track could’ve dropped right alongside Pet Shop Boys, New Order, or Depeche Mode — intentional or not. Either way… it slaps. One of my favorite YouTube comments says it all: “I danced to this in 1984. I was born in ’92.” Seriously, this is a jam worth diving into.
Go find yourself a Part Time jam to enjoy! You never know which alias he'll use next!
Stay Tuned in, my friends — Berly D
If you dug this post, feel free to tip the scribbler: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/berlyd
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