Aaron Koenig turns intelligence into intimacy on "Sapiosexual"

“Sapiosexual” is a love song by Aaron Koenig, a celebration of attraction at its most intellectual. The music is inspired by the term sapiosexuality, which refers to attraction based on intelligence. It turns the way we think about desire on its head, suggesting that it arises from thought, curiosity, and mind-to-mind connection rather than just wanting something on the surface of an attractive offer.

“Sapiosexual” is a zone that some people share where smarts become sexy. The song’s universal sound makes it warm and inviting, allowing you to see yourself in its story. If you consider intelligence a tool for communicating with others, something eerily similar is at play here.

And while Santana inspires the song, there’s a swooping, Santanesque guitar solo that sounds intuitive and emotive, and it also carries an overall pop playfulness with rich Latin percussion. The organ stands out because it quotes “Oye Como Va,” which adds a layer of respect without copying it.

“Sapiosexual” is the second track on Koenig’s full album “Blow My Mind.” It features 12 songs, and it establishes the mood of the entire project. It reveals an artist not afraid to sing about the weird, while ensuring it’s easy to listen to and dance to.

What’s great about “Sapiosexual” is how it suggests that attraction occurs during conversation, and that people share ideas and minds meet. What he offers instead is something both refreshingly bright and entirely human in a musical climate where surface stories are the rule.

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