Beau Boulden – Chemicals (2022)
With his single ‘Unfold’, Beau Boulden introduced us to his style and grace as he tackled emotions that you are unable to change and need to learn to accept. His latest single ‘Chemicals’ also turns inward, but this time, he looks at exposing everything that you are to yourself. Tackling the concept of lying to yourself and those you love, he encourages us to be honest with ourselves and avoid looking for reasons for something when it might just be who you are.
A hard-hitting confessional style single, it exposes our shortcomings with a delightful honesty, while pushing us to accept exactly who we are. Mixing calls to look deep inside and embrace what you find, the single is one that will leave you with a lot of soul-searching to do. Memorable and beautiful, Boulden brings the juxtaposition of our souls to life.
Boulden’s vocals smoothly draw you into ‘Chemicals’ with a soulful flow of honesty. There is a touch of sadness to the honesty that is woven into each note and remains as his performance rises. This rise of his performance is amazing and really showcases the power of his voice. Throughout the single, the lyrics are packed with an honest confrontation with his own shortcomings and how they impact his life. The rise of the chorus considers how this could be the chemicals within us and how they form into who we are. At times, the confrontation with his shortcomings turns outward and hits at other people, before returning to the look at yourself. It is a really powerful performance that perfectly captures the turmoil of confronting the worst parts of who we are, while also encouraging, as he pushes us to be honest with ourselves in order to move forward.
While his vocals are by far the driving element of the single, the underlying melody provides the platform for his authenticity to leap from. The light piano tones of the opening sweep into a clapping beat as his vocals rise. These sweeping tones continue throughout the single, taking his vocals to new heights. Later in the track, there is a warbling tone that weaves its way through the background, that mimics the turmoil of his vocals and the emotions he invokes. While his performance is stunning, the bolstering effects of the melody take everything to a new level.
Using powerful vocals and sweeping melodics, Beau Boulden confronts our personal shortcomings and encourages us to be honest with ourselves in ‘Chemicals’. The single is driven by his vocal performance which is as powerful as it is honest and authentic. The melody bolsters the emotive movement of the vocals as they consider how lying to yourself hurts you and others.
Find out more about Beau Boulden on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
