Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Carson Ferris – Talkin’ To You (2023)

On the cusp of puberty, Carson Ferris is not the boy next door who is about to deal with his voice breaking. Yes, he might look like the friendly, decent young man you’d love your daughter to consider as a first love; however, there’s far more to him than a fresh-faced sweetness. He is an old soul within a cutesy-pie package – knowledgeable and sophisticated but with youthful innocence.

Following his well-received single ‘1999’, US-based Ferris once again pours his love for 90s pop into ‘Talkin’ To You’ but with a bit of a twist. Collaborating once again with producer Mykyl, Adam Turley (mixing) and Eric Disero (mastering), with engineering by Maren Gayle at June Audio, ‘Talkin’ To You’ is a fusion of bold beats and rhythmic guitars in a 90s pop wrapper. Expertly layered and textured, the melody has a mature arrangement; however, the mellifluous pop flow is tinged with a heavier rock sound. Ferris’ signature vintage pop oozes forth but with a shimmering of pop-rock lingering in the background.

Like ‘1999’, ‘Talkin’ To You’ has a passionate boy band style and I can easily place Carson Ferris alongside the vocal stylings of Nick Carter and Taylor Hanson. Stepping directly out of 1997, there is the retro pop sound but also the vulnerability within the old songs. Penned by Carson Ferris and Michael Van Wagoner, with vocal production by Jen Marco, ‘Talkin’ To You’ is meant to have a Halloween feel to it ready for the Halloween season. The thing is, he does not go Hocus Pocus on us, rather he considers the scariest thing of all – the depressing anxiety of rejection. Ferris explains:

“’Talkin’ To You’ is a song about the scariest thing possible: telling the person you like that you like them. It’s super relatable because the fear of rejection is something that everyone has felt in one way or another.”

Sincere, sentimental and transcending the decades, Carson Ferris’ ‘Talkin’ To You’ broaches a universal issue that leaves people, irrespective of their age, more terrified than dealing with vampires, witches and werewolves.


For more from Carson Ferris, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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