Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Mark Houston – The Way It Goes (2021)

A lot of people feel adrift after a difficult breakup and only find confidence again when they are secure in their understanding of themselves. This concept has been turned into a catchy and laid-back single by Mark Houston with ‘The Way It Goes’. With a touch of cheeky lyrics and sassy melodics, he brings an alt-folk artists interpretation of a classic pop song to our ears.

Houston (vocals, guitar, bass, melodica) has been helped in this endeavour by Luke Westermeyer (drums, percussion) and Jimmy Hill (mixing, mastering). The track comes off Houston’s debut album which is set for release later this year. Blending storytelling lyrics with guitar-driven melodics, the single puts a smile on your face while filling you with the confidence of the concept behind it.



‘The Way It Goes’ draws you in with a country edge folk tone full of laid-back instrumentation and vibes. This gives way to a guitar-driven melody that has a wonderful bouncing feeling to it. The music alone can easily put a smile on your face as you listen and sway your head to the vibes. As the song progresses, there is an enhancement to the bouncing vibe of the music that bolsters the vocals and lyrics. While the music has a rather laid-back vibe, there are moments when you get a kick of cheekiness and sass.

Houston’s vocals are all smooth folk when he enters with a soft slide to his tone. This smoothness is an interesting counter to the sassy lyrics. Through his performance, you are filled with the cheeky vibes of the music while he infuses a sense of confidence into your veins. The lyrics are a sassy clap-back at people who have hurt you as you smirk at them. There is a really catchy feeling to the vocals that makes you want to listen to the track again and again.

Mark Houston puts a smile on your face with some laid-back melodics covered in cheeky lyrics and gently smirking vocals in ‘The Way It Goes’. Using a folk flair, he infuses confidence into your veins while calling out people who have hurt you in the past. The single is an easy to listen to track that helps you see the full picture of life while finding your own strength.

Find out more about Mark Houston on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.