simple socks’ “Training Wheels” Is About Growing Up Without a Safety Net

There’s a specific kind of fear that comes with starting over in your 30s that no one really talks about. Not the cinematic, romanticized version. The real one. The quiet, constant question of whether you made the right call. “Training Wheels” by simple socks taps into that feeling without overcomplicating it.

simple socks, the solo project of Toronto-based Filipino artist Iggy San Pablo, isn’t trying to reinvent indie rock here. He’s doing something harder. He’s making it feel honest again.

As the opening track to his upcoming EP, Joanna Drive, “Training Wheels” sets the tone immediately. It’s about stepping away from what’s familiar and choosing growth, even when it doesn’t feel secure. For Iggy, that meant leaving Manila, where he had an established life and music career, and starting over in a completely different city. That context gives the song weight before it even starts.

Sonically, it sits in that indie rock and indie pop space that feels nostalgic without being stuck in the past. There’s a looseness to the production that works in its favor. It’s not overly polished, and it doesn’t need to be. The guitars carry a steady, driving energy while still leaving space for reflection. It feels like movement, which matches the theme perfectly.

Vocally, Iggy leans into restraint instead of trying to overpower the track. There’s a grounded quality to his delivery that makes the message land. You believe him when he sings about figuring things out as he goes, because it doesn’t sound like he has it all figured out. That’s what makes it relatable.

Lyrically, “Training Wheels” avoids clichés by staying specific. It’s not just about independence in a broad sense. It’s about the tension between wanting to prove something to yourself and hoping the people you left behind understand why you had to leave in the first place. That balance between personal ambition and emotional connection is where the song really hits.

What’s interesting is how this release contrasts with Iggy’s past work. As the frontman of Rusty Machines, a Manila-based indie rock band with millions of streams, he’s already proven he can make music that connects. But simple socks feel more stripped back, more introspective. Less about the band dynamic and more about his individual perspective.

And that shift matters. It shows growth, not just thematically, but artistically.

“Training Wheels” isn’t trying to be an anthem. It’s not loud or overly dramatic. It’s steady, reflective, and honest about the discomfort that comes with change. It understands that becoming a “real” person, as Iggy puts it, doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a process. Messy, uncertain, and necessary.