Doug McArthur – Hermit Phase (2023)
While this might be an introduction to musician Doug McArthur as a solo artist, McArthur has been making music for two decades. Performing with various bands, such as Broken Halo and Soapbox, the Canadian singer-songwriter has released critically acclaimed material, toured Western Canada, performed at various festivals including Winnipeg Fringe Festival, shared the stage with iconic artists like Sum 41, Heart, The Trews and ZZ Top, AND atop all that was described as having “amazing vocals” by The Who.
Preceding his single ‘Draw The Line’, Doug McArthur tips his hat at 90s rock combining pop-rock vibes with alternative rock slicks in a hard-hitting sonic wrapper with ‘Hermit Phase’. As with ‘Draw The Line’ which brings a nostalgic whiff of the 70s, the debut ‘Hermit Phase’ drags listeners back a few decades but simultaneously retains a flit of contemporary rock edginess. Recorded and co-produced with Rusty Robot, mixed and mastered by John Paul Peters, ‘Hermit Phase’ transcends time and space warming our hearts with a simple but intricate rock song. While there is a sophisticated elegance to the single, a raw ruggedness shimmers on the surface with a cheeky grin.
Despite ‘Hermit Phase’ only being released in 2023, the single has been in McArthur’s box of songs since 2016. Born as a result of “long time noodling on the C major scale, along with some inspiration from singer-songwriter Melissa McClelland”, ‘Hermit Phase’ uses crashing drums, dynamic guitars and a bold bass to send you soaring on a classic rock journey. Interestingly, while the melody has a laidback vibe, the song is thought-provoking and complex layering existential questions alongside a flashing streak of hopeful empowerment. McArthur explains:
“’Hermit Phase’ is a conversation with myself about whether it’s better to live out my days in the tranquillity of nature or to stay put and keep building good relationships with others… It is a conversation I’ve had many times over the years, and I think it’s interesting that this song came to me way back in 2016, long before the pandemic. It does resonate with me even more now that we have gone through a global hermit phase.”
For more from Doug McArthur, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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