Joe Traxler – Don’t Dance (2021)
If Bruno Mars were to have a lovechild with Charlie Puth and it was raised by Rob Thomas, the chances are it would be Joe Traxler. With his reputation of captivating the audience’s souls with his engaging melodies, Traxler is easily a naturally talented multi-instrumentalist with a unique sound. Yes, he is an enthusiastic performer having supported acts like James Gillespie, Jade Bird and Vesperteen, but he also has a tenderness as a recording artist. One of the latest additions to his well-received discography is the single ‘Don’t Dance’.
Following the soothing indie-rock track ‘Phases’, Traxler takes a more forceful approach in ‘Don’t Dance’. With twinges of funk underlying an alternative rock design, Traxler shows he is not only innovative but versatile in his boundary-breaking music. Reminiscent of funk-rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s, ‘Don’t Dance’ is a step back in time alongside acts like Phish and Chicago. Something that you do not hear very often in contemporary music scenes is the successful representation of old-school funk acts, but Traxler seems to have effortlessly captured that insatiable sound.
When speaking about making music, Traxler shares that he does this “…for the love of it and curiosity to delve deeper into all different aspects of it. I personally feel most inspired by artists who don’t follow any recipes for commercial success but pursue their unique creative journey.” This inspirational perspective is clearly seen in his eclectic evolution from the debut ‘If I Could Ever Fall Asleep’ to the current ‘Fools Gold’. Boundary-breaking in every sense, there is an intrinsic mystery about the Austria-based singer-songwriter. This intrigues me.
Taken off his upcoming debut EP Lifelines, ‘Don’t Dance’ is an exploration of the existential themes of social anxiety and insecurity. Oddly enough, this desperate theme is juxtaposed by a feel-good toe-tapping melody and this might be the most exciting part of the song. Using personal narratives, Traxler connects with his listeners on a deeper level carrying them off in a whirlpool of sound.
In addition to his single, Traxler released an official music video for ‘Don’t Dance’. A sophisticated and intriguing video, Traxler adds a visual element to his toe-tapping tune. Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the video in its entirety as it contains lighting effects and image transitions that cause seizures in people with photosensitivity. Watch the video at your own discretion.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from Joe Traxler check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
