Hummingbird, the debut Ep from West Midlands based singer songwriter Matt Sayers is a demonstration of exactly how to be a solo act in 2017 and stand out amongst the crowd. The young, Dudley based songwriter hosts regular acoustic nights around the region, but with a debut as tender and beautiful as Hummingbird it is easy to foresee him progressing through the ranks of the music industry at a rapid rate. Not bad for 18 year's old...
The four track release is an exploration of admiration, ambition and love, presented in a well crafted, sonically stunning package. With reverberating guitars and primal drum parts, Sayers sound is similar to that of songwriter success stories such as Ben Howard and 2015 sensation Hozier, but remains unique. Many of the tracks open with just a country-picked acoustic Guitar and descend into chorus' of ambient folk-pop, with atmospheric synth pads providing a canvas for Sayers' tales.
The Ep opens with titular track Hummingbird, a combination of soft, warbling synth pads and strummed acoustic Guitar that accompany Sayer's delicate vocal delivery. I am a big fan of his use of third person within his songwriting and his use of characters to tell stories, whether as a disguise for himself or another. Hummingbird is an excellent example of this. "She can hide a hand of cards, She can stay below the radar undercover, but when she spreads her wings she can shoot for the stars" is the lyric that really reached out to me upon listen after listen.
It is in the nature of a singer songwriters recording to be at risk of monotony. However the bare bones of the tracks on this Ep have been well cultivated and dressed in production, that compliment and take them to another level. It is hard when armed solely with an acoustic guitar (talking from experience) to get away from the folk genre, which Sayers sits just outside of thanks to the alternative edge and production on the Ep.
Hell or High Water sees Sayers take on a more blues-esque sound with thumping drums and a double bass part, it's clear there's far more than one string to his songwriting bow. The track takes you away to an Autumnal place of reflection and reminds me of cold October sunsets, providing a moment of shade on the Ep. This is helped along by Sayers' dark lyricism,"Come hell or high water, they'll find you some way, they'll slay you as a martyr, make you rise again some day". To put the cherry on the top, a Tom Waits style fuzzed out Guitar solo is added for good measure, giving the Ep even more sonic variety.
It is clear that this isn't a song, but a story, as is the case for the whole of Hummingbird which takes the listener on a journey through light and dark.
The following track Simple Song begins with an Ryan Adams heartbreak-Americana style picked acoustic Guitar part which suggest other influence upon the writing of the Ep. Like title track Hummingbird, Simple Song ascends into an anthemic chorus of piano and synth soundscapes which combine to bring Matt Sayers' excellent lyricism to life.
It is Carry Me Home however that brings the Ep to a close, a track that is centered around self reflection where Sayers' moves away from the third person guise he has retained throughout the former tracks. I couldn't think of a better track end Hummingbird than Carry Me Home, which sees Sayers' kindle an intimacy between himself and his listener. Armed with just his voice and an acoustic Guitar his lyrics and voice are as every bit as captivating as they are on the three tracks before.
With a debut release as strong as Hummingbird and at such a young age, there is no doubt of success for a talent such as Matt Sayers, someone who has strived and is every bit deserving of it. I look forward to witnessing what is next for the Midlands songwriter and what doors Hummingbird will open for himself and his music.
'Hummingbird' is set for self release in late August 2017
For fans of: Ben Howard, Hozier, Frank Turner, Seafret
Keep up to date with Matt Sayers below:
https://www.facebook.com/mattsayersmusic1/
The four track release is an exploration of admiration, ambition and love, presented in a well crafted, sonically stunning package. With reverberating guitars and primal drum parts, Sayers sound is similar to that of songwriter success stories such as Ben Howard and 2015 sensation Hozier, but remains unique. Many of the tracks open with just a country-picked acoustic Guitar and descend into chorus' of ambient folk-pop, with atmospheric synth pads providing a canvas for Sayers' tales.
The Ep opens with titular track Hummingbird, a combination of soft, warbling synth pads and strummed acoustic Guitar that accompany Sayer's delicate vocal delivery. I am a big fan of his use of third person within his songwriting and his use of characters to tell stories, whether as a disguise for himself or another. Hummingbird is an excellent example of this. "She can hide a hand of cards, She can stay below the radar undercover, but when she spreads her wings she can shoot for the stars" is the lyric that really reached out to me upon listen after listen.
It is in the nature of a singer songwriters recording to be at risk of monotony. However the bare bones of the tracks on this Ep have been well cultivated and dressed in production, that compliment and take them to another level. It is hard when armed solely with an acoustic guitar (talking from experience) to get away from the folk genre, which Sayers sits just outside of thanks to the alternative edge and production on the Ep.
Hell or High Water sees Sayers take on a more blues-esque sound with thumping drums and a double bass part, it's clear there's far more than one string to his songwriting bow. The track takes you away to an Autumnal place of reflection and reminds me of cold October sunsets, providing a moment of shade on the Ep. This is helped along by Sayers' dark lyricism,"Come hell or high water, they'll find you some way, they'll slay you as a martyr, make you rise again some day". To put the cherry on the top, a Tom Waits style fuzzed out Guitar solo is added for good measure, giving the Ep even more sonic variety.
It is clear that this isn't a song, but a story, as is the case for the whole of Hummingbird which takes the listener on a journey through light and dark.
The following track Simple Song begins with an Ryan Adams heartbreak-Americana style picked acoustic Guitar part which suggest other influence upon the writing of the Ep. Like title track Hummingbird, Simple Song ascends into an anthemic chorus of piano and synth soundscapes which combine to bring Matt Sayers' excellent lyricism to life.
It is Carry Me Home however that brings the Ep to a close, a track that is centered around self reflection where Sayers' moves away from the third person guise he has retained throughout the former tracks. I couldn't think of a better track end Hummingbird than Carry Me Home, which sees Sayers' kindle an intimacy between himself and his listener. Armed with just his voice and an acoustic Guitar his lyrics and voice are as every bit as captivating as they are on the three tracks before.
With a debut release as strong as Hummingbird and at such a young age, there is no doubt of success for a talent such as Matt Sayers, someone who has strived and is every bit deserving of it. I look forward to witnessing what is next for the Midlands songwriter and what doors Hummingbird will open for himself and his music.
'Hummingbird' is set for self release in late August 2017
For fans of: Ben Howard, Hozier, Frank Turner, Seafret
Keep up to date with Matt Sayers below:
https://www.facebook.com/mattsayersmusic1/
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