Kevin Garrett and Love Actually

Today I have some slower music for you by an artist who has stayed out of the spotlight, but really deserves to be in it. Kevin Garrett is a singer based out of New York, and he is not only a wonderful singer but a moving songwriter. Kevin Garrett is not just a singer, but also a storyteller. What I love about his music is that the lyrics are so much more than what you hear. There is so much more to their meaning than the surface value, what we can glean from the initial listen. This song is a tragically romantic ballad, one that really gets you into this mood of thinking and retaining this emotionally pensive nature. Kevin Garrett has created an album that is sophisticated and incredibly well produced, compositions that are infused with elements of pop and soul and some soft rock. What he does with this short album, is create a completely unique soundscape which is carried throughout the album. I won't lie, there is room for believing that the songs sound similar, but there is still that unique sound that all the songs have, a wonderfully simplistic but powerful accompaniment to the vocals. Speaking of vocals, Kevin Garrett's voice is absolutely stunning. You can believe every word he is singing, and he pours emotion into his voice. You can feel the anguish and the sadness and the longing in this song, in a way that is so raw and so real. I think that is one of the best things about Kevin Garrett. He keeps his music simple and leaves most of the work to his voice, which makes every song so  much more powerful. The stripped down nature of the music allows to really hear his voice, hear the emotion and the depth with which he feels. I mean it is so stunning and made me stop what I was doing when I heard this song. I actually stopped working and just sat there and listened with my eyes closed. I really do feel every word he sings, and what is more, I can genuinely feel the emotion behind the voice and words. I can feel the vulnerability and fragility in his voice, the innocence and uncertainty of being young and in love. Everything about this song is so beautifully poignant. There is authenticity in the music and in his voice, something that makes this song ever so haunting and moving. The instrumentation in this song is also gentle and tastefully composed. This is a piano-tinged ballad, meaning that the most prominent instrument we hear is the piano. The song actually opens up with us hearing the piano play background to the vocals. And we get just the piano for a good majority of the song. About halfway through the song, we get to hear some of the drum set come to life. But it is just the soft shimmer of the cymbals, a sound that quietly comes forward and tenderly dissipates. Eventually the kick drum beat gets added in, and the height of the song is announced by warm strength of the cymbals at full force. But at the end, everything fades away, leaving us with the just the ghost of a whisper of the song. I just love soaking this song in. Being able to listen to it with full attention because it grabs my attention. This is such a beautifully done song and know that this will become a must-listen on those rainy days. Today's instrumental song is from the movie Love Actually. This is a rather lovely score, I won't lie. What is wonderful about this composition is that the piece itself has elements that are both uplifting and heart wrenching. This is also a piano driven piece, another element that makes this so lovely. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!