Have you ever heard something so beautiful it made you want to cry and smile at the same time? That’s the result you may find after hearing to the music that Kevin Erskine has created. Simple in it’s nature, complex in it’s creativity, beautiful in it’s entirety. With the release of his new EP ‘Ashford’ comes three songs that send a feeling of pure joy to the heart, and will have you needing to listen to each one multiple times to fully embrace every little detail he touches on musically.
First track on the EP is my particular favorite; ‘Far Away’. The beginning reminds me of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ but only for a moment, once Kev’s voice dominates the listening ears, there’s no mistaking that tone. The song has a steady heartbeat-like rhythm, when all of a sudden, before the start of the second verse; a slam, like ball and chains hits, taking the song to another level. Kev adds a layer of depth to each track on the album, without creating a mess chaotic clutter. That’s much harder to do than one would think, and it becomes obvious how well he understands his craft. He knows when to add something musical or vocal, when to let something drop out, and when to just let it ride the sound waves.
Next up on the EP is titled; ‘Birdcage Chest’. Beginning with a soft and drifting intro of finger-picking guitar work, his vocals lay on the gentle foundation he’s building with graceful ease.
“Wake me when you’re home,
my eyes are growing tired,
I’m scared that I’ll miss out,
on a single kiss goodnight”
…his voice is so intriguing, soft and smooth, with more than a touch of raw emotion pouring out when he drops into his lower register. He accents the combination of dynamic vocal skills and well written lyric, with unique touches and sounds. Sounds of everyday noises you would hear around the house; like the tweeting of birds. He has a way of making the tiniest things, almost always taken for granted, newly appreciated, and musically; borderline genius.
Last on his three song EP is; ‘You Owe Me’. Kev adds the touches of violin, and the sound of waves in the mix with his dominate skills on the guitar. Like the songs prior, ‘You Owe Me’ has it’s own signature mark on the musical scale. This one has a slight country/folk like sound to it, all the while it’s unmistakably Kevin.
“There’s something that the morning craves,
and I’m not very well behaved”
..and that’s how he leaves you, with a lingering thought, hanging on the last notes, the last words in the lyric, grasping for a few more moments with the life he shares through a song; his song.
I could say the same thing about many songs; they take you on a journey. But it never ceases to amaze me that lyrics someone else has written can become “your” story, become a personal part of “your” life, a moment shared on “your” shelf….and Kevin has achieved just that and more. There aren’t enough words to describe how that impacts you, it’s just a feeling you have to have for yourself to fully understand.
You can hear more from Kevin here.
You can purchase his EP here.
By Pranam Bai Richter
Singer/Songwriter – The Richter Sisters
Head of Global Publicity – The Fish Pond
