Dylan Menzie – Strong Enough (2024)
Music acts as a catharsis, solace, the place you go when the world is becoming a bit too much; then again, it is the celebration, the happiness, the exuberant rambunctiousness coming from pure joy… or aggression, or rage, or the tumultuous angst needing to break free. Whatever emotion you feel, art is an outlet and Dylan Menzie captures this core of humanity in his music.
For over a decade, Canadian singer-songwriter Menzie has turned heads by sharing his music with the masses, taking us on a journey of sonic enlightenment. From confident festival performances to critically acclaimed albums, award-winning singles and growing status as a prominent feature in the music industry, Menzie is gaining an international following rather quickly. Today we look at his new single, ‘Strong Enough’.
Following his award-winning acoustic EP Modern Classic, ‘Strong Enough’ is Menzie’s first release in two years. Listening to his previous material, I expected his distinctive “Indie Pop Americana”; however, it wasn’t exactly the signature style I believed to receive. Still lingering with the realm of indie-pop, ‘Strong Enough’ opens with a leaning toward contemporary pop. You travel through this tunnel of pop which, to me at least, inched toward a common pop single… then the bottom drops.
Like stepping into a hurricane of sound, bold beats slip from one side as percussion waivers along the haze. A strong guitar comes from the front while a hit of drums nips at your toes. Twirling in reckless abandon, you feel slightly consumed and the push of an Irish fiddle weaves about you with a shimmering glow. Funk and folk fuse as pop leads the way, and the only anchor is Menzie’s rich, powerful vocals before hitting the eye of the storm. A soft piano rises from the soundscape while the fiddle dominates ultimately ending with bold strums.
Despite the upbeat, infectious, toe-tapping quality of ‘Strong Enough’, the whirl of music intricately displays confusion, vulnerability and hopeful empowerment raising its complexity. Menzie explains:
“Life is full of ups and downs, and ‘Strong Enough’, as uplifting and funky as it is, was sparked from a down moment. Through making records I’ve struggled a lot with relying on external validation and I wanted to have a song that could take myself back to a hopeful attitude. When you pour your soul into something it can weigh heavily on your sense of self when it doesn’t meet whatever expectations you had for it… performing songs has helped me grow into a much deeper version of myself…”
Find out more about Dylan Menzie on his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
Listen to more indie-pop stongs on The Other Side Reviews Indie Pop playlist:
