Alwyn Morrison – Chained (2025)
I’ll admit, even while I enjoy discovering new musicians, there are those that I forget almost as soon as I’ve discovered them, and, oddly enough, Alwyn Morrison was one… or was he? Looking at his new single on my virtual desk, my immediate thought was: “hey, I remember you”, and a grin crossed my lips. Hailing from the USA – New York to be exact – Alwyn Morrison throws you into a kaleidoscopic swirl of sound with his eclectic, immersive, and vibrant melodies. I’ve happily reviewed his singles ‘The City’ and ‘Lenox Hill’, so join me as I gander at his most recent release, ‘Chained’.
Recorded last year in Los Angeles – actually, the first single Morrison recorded in a studio – ‘Chained’ draws together the talents of Morrison and producer Michael Carey. Shifting from the infectious, toe-tapping indie-pop tone of ‘Lenox Hill’, ‘Chained’ tips its hat at vintage alternative rock. Immediately transporting me to the 90s alt-rock music scene with a likening to Goo Goo Dolls, Morrison’s new single seemingly oozes husky ruggedness entwined in rich rock-inspired grooves.
One element I enjoy about ‘Chained’ is its multi-faceted innovation. While the crashing drums, soaring guitars, and bold bass twirl about with kaleidoscopic sound, there is an odd simplicity to the track. Perhaps it is Morrison’s rich vocals carving a path through the sonic swirl that hints at this simplicity, or it might be the raw honesty of the lyricism enhancing the bare-bones starkness. Whatever it is, ‘Chained’ is a song brimming with individuality but keeping the universal theme of difficult relationships in check. Morrison explains:
“It’s about loving someone who suffers from depression, hence the reference to being “in a dark room” and how that impacts my own life – never wanting to leave someone behind, which also keeps me “inside of a room”. As much as I would do anything to cure that person, it’s beyond my control, and every attempt fails, leaving me helpless… As deeply personal as the song is to me, I believe the song is universally relatable, as we all sometimes feel bound to certain feelings, life experiences, or people.”
Find out more about Alwyn Morrison on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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