"Someone to Hold" is a song co-written and performed by American contemporary R&B singer Trey Lorenz. It was also written and produced by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. It is the opening track from his eponymous debut album and also was issued as the album's first single on September 1, 1992 by Epic Records. The song was his only hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist, peaking at #19 in 1992.
European releases of the song were backed with "Wanna Girl," Lorenz' original version of a song which became an international hit in 1993 for Jeremy Jordan.
Background and release
Epic Records promoted "Someone to Hold" as the lead single from Trey Lorenz. It released it in the United States on September 1, 1992, and in the United Kingdom on November 9, 1992. The label issued 7-inch vinyls, cassettes, and CDs in both countries. A mini CD followed in Japan on November 21, 1992. The single has the album track "Find a Way" as a B-side and certain releases also include "Wanna Girl". To promote "Someone to Hold", Lorenz starred in a music video directed by Michael Borofsky. He appeared on the American late-night television program The Arsenio Hall Show, sang on It's Showtime at the Apollo, and performed on the British television series Friday Night with Wogan.
Music and lyrics
Situated in pop and R&B music, "Someone to Hold" is a slow jam with a synth-laden production. In the lyrics, a narrator expresses joy in finding the woman that is his soulmate. Critics considered the composition "soothing" and "sensitive" and described Lorenz's vocal delivery as "smooth" and "soulful".
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Trey Lorenz
Recording
Recorded at The Plant Recording Studios (Sausalito, California), Right Track Recording Studios (New York City), The Record Plant (Los Angeles) Mixed at The Plant Recording Studios (Sausalito, California) Mastered at Masterdisk (New York)
Personnel
Trey Lorenz – songwriter, lead vocals
Mariah Carey – songwriter, producer, arranger, vocal arranger, background vocals
Walter Afanasieff – songwriter, producer, arranger, keyboards, Synclavier programming, acoustic guitar Dan Shea – additional producer, keyboards, synth bass, rhythm programming Dana Jon Chappelle – engineering, mixing Manny LaCarrubba – additional engineering Katherine Miller – vocal engineering Jim Caruana – second engineering Thom Kadley – second engineering David Gleeson – second engineering Gary Cirimelli – Akai programming, Macintosh programming, Synclavier programming Ren Klyce – additional programming Michael Landau – guitars Cindy Mizelle – background vocals Audrey Wheeler – background vocals Will Downing – background vocals Bob Ludwig – mastering