Ian Roland – The Beacon (2024)
Celebrating the inextricable connection between nature, life and music, singer-songwriter Ian Roland takes everything in, breathes deep and expresses the essence of reality in moving melodies. So, considering his embracing of music as life, it makes sense that there is no boundary to his musical style. From indie-rock and folk to pop and classic rock, the UK-based artist saunters across genres with eclecticism and innovation. Already on our radar, he has enchanted our team with ‘Living In Sound’ and ‘Lodestone’; come with us as we take another enchanted step into his discography with ‘The Beacon’.
Following the well-received track ‘Lodestone’, Roland shifts from a folk-pop-filled sound to an old-school folk tone in ‘The Beacon’, yet a hint of contemporary folk flutters within the vintage tones. Joined by Dave Coomber (bass), Mishkin Fitzgerald (piano), James Chapman (drums), and Simon Yapp (violin and viola), the melody oozes richness and soothing in their harmonic blend.
Listening to ‘The Beacon’ sends a rush of warmth along your limbs and in your heart. Coomber’s bass intertwines with Chapman’s drums while Roland’s guitar soars alongside. For me, however, it is Fitzgerald’s piano slithering through the melody that enhances the song’s sincerity. Shimmering behind, Yapp’s violin brings a classical edge but with tender folk-ness. Working their magic on the arrangement, producers Jake Skinner and Bob Macciochi (mastering) bring sophisticated elegance to a simplistic but kaleidoscopic tune.
Roland’s previous single ‘Lodestone’ paid tribute to Gavin MacLeod, founder of the Greyhound Acoustic Gathering at the Greyhound Pub in Keymer, and he pays homage once again in ‘The Beacon’. No, not to MacLeod but rather butterflies. Roland explains:
“A homage to the Adonis Blue Butterfly and the landscape of the South Downs National Park…this song celebrates the essential beauty of nature, the web of which sustains all life including our own. We need to preserve it…”
In addition to the single, Ian Roland released an official music video for ‘The Beacon’. You can view the video below or on his YouTube channel.
Find out more about Ian Roland on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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