Lars Swanson – Small Town Boy (2022)
There are a lot of people who grow up in small towns who want to leave as soon as they are old enough. This is the tale that Lars Swanson has woven into ‘Small Town Boy’, but offers a slight twist as the main character comes to realise what the town really means to him. With a wonderful blend of country and rock, he reflects on small town life, the urge to move on and the realisation that your hometown means a lot more to you when you are older than when you are younger.
Inspired by the things in life that he finds important, Swanson infuses stories of friendship, love, loss and roots with a wonderful depth of emotion. A high school teacher by day and a musician by night, he uses his spare time to craft country-rock singles that are so easy to relate to. Understanding that you can leave a small town but never take the small town out of you, this track is a delightful country anthem.
‘Small Town Boy’ brings a rich mixture of country and rock to the melody from the first second. There is an earthy feeling to the music that gets your foot tapping to the pulse of the guitar. The drums tap against the back of your head with a serious country edge. The melodic arrangement tilts heavily into country territory, but the gentle soar of the guitar brings a rock vibe. It is a rather addictive melody that makes you want to move to it, whether that is just tapping your feet or hopping into a strange line dance. Through the country vibes, that rock guitar really makes itself known, adding some texture to the single.
The country vibes continue with Swanson’s vocals that drop you directly into the story of the lyrics. Through the opening verse, he taps into the urge to leave a small town as soon as you are old enough. There is a sense of freedom that comes through his performance and a feeling of achievement, but this is tempered by the chorus that turns all of the misconceptions on their head. Through the chorus, he lets you know that at heart he is still just a small town boy. This slides into the rest of the single that takes a new look at the small town and is infused with an almost nostalgic longing. It is a really fun single that makes you appreciate the things that you overlook when young.
Lars Swanson has us longing for small towns, while considering all the things you miss and see in a different light when you return in ‘Small Town Boy’. The melody is a true country bop that has you moving to its rhythm in some manner. His vocals are emotive as he moves away from his small town, only to consider all the things that are wonderful about it.
Find out more about Lars Swanson on his Spotify.
