Local Review: Tempting – Drunk Driving

Tempting
Drunk Driving
Script Kitty Records
Street: 01.30.2026
Smith and Winkler = Hugh Jackman + video game music + Labrinth

Tempting’s two band members — Zane Smith and Faith Winkler — put out their first album (congratulations!) called Drunk Driving. I’d describe Winkler and Smith’s album’s common themes as sensuality, sin and vulnerability.

My personal favorite was “truth or dare.” The song includes its own music video, which begins with spinning the bottle and progresses to kissing in the bathroom. You really notice the chemistry building not only from their sensuality but through the textures and lighting around them.

During the song “drunk driving,” the story moves into a more vulnerable state: being intoxicated, feeling chemistry with each other and making a choice that changes both of your lives forever — the choice of drunk driving and getting a DUI halfway through the drive.

When the beginning beat of “sinners” started, it sounded a lot like the Disney movie Bambi. “sinner” took a twisted turn fast, and the beat changed into a darker, more vulnerable presence. The song describes the gut-wrenching feeling that our hearts cannot deny for another person and the inability to undo choices once they are made. It felt like it signified some sort of spiritual sense.

“over you” has a deeper meaning of hanging on to the memories of the person we found intimate moments with and the strong urge to hold on because of the passion and vulnerability that has been shared. The song shed light on the grieving process, and I feel like each song so far has represented a different phase in the process of love and an unwillingness to give up. 

One of the final songs that stood out was “rear view,” featuring Chex Max. Chex Max’s vocals stood out to me especially because it was a different style than the rest of the album; it sounded a lot like Logic. Chex-Max pushed “rear view” more into the genres hip hop or rap versus Winkler, who primarily focused their voice on other genres for the album. Regardless of the shift in music style, the song fit perfectly. Chex Max has a history of collaborating with various other Utah artists throughout the years, and this was Tempting’s very first collaboration! 

At the end of the album, I was feeling satisfied by the results, not only because of the effort put into the music but the creative direction of the visual elements. —Morgan Hillam

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