Marcus Eaton – Bystander (2022)
There are a lot of stories about people watching as something terrible happens to others. This phenomenon has been picked up by Marcus Eaton and turned into his aptly titled single ‘Bystander’. As he taps into people watching things happen, he looks to inspire all of us to no longer act as a bystander, with some upbeat melodics.
The inspirational tones of the track are packed into a rather anthemic movement that highlights the addictive blend of rock and pop that Eaton does so well. While this musical project is primarily a solo musical venture, Eaton is joined by a collection of talented musicians to bring the inspiration to life. Featured on this track are Mai Leisz (bass), Scott Seiver (drums) and Meghan Cassidy (viola, violin).
‘Bystander’ uses a really unique opening to grab your attention. The almost futuristic feeling to the pulses of the opening make their way over the beats that get your feet tapping to their rhythm. There is a steady build through the melody, leading you to the chorus where a heaving, moving flow hits you and gets you dancing to the rhythm. It is a rather upbeat melody that slowly creeps into your senses, but this is tempered by a darkness that bolsters the lyrics. The interplay between the upbeat and dark tones is wonderful as it creates the complicated feeling of the track and the potential for inspiration. Around halfway through the single, the melody eases for a soft wash, before the rock-tinged guitars call out and merge with the strings. This is a burst of energy that is really addictive and utterly shakes you up.
As you move to the music, Eaton’s vocals smoothly enter and slide between the beats. There is a blurring of genre lines in his performance as he brings a powerful pop movement to an anthemic rock ride on the chorus. Through the verses, he turns our attention to the world around us and how many of us are blind to what is happening. This is a rather sombre movement that moves into something more uplifting in the chorus. As his voice rises, he lets us know that we don’t need bystanders and through this inspires all of us to take action. His performance is enhanced by the upbeat vibes of the melody, while the darker considerations of the verses weave into the melodic darkness.
If the single on its own is not enough to get you into the inspiration of the track, the stunningly beautiful music video just might. Hand-illustrated by Italian artist Cri Polto, the video uses 1029 individual drawings to create visual imagery that invites us to be more than bystanders in life. Each image is outstanding in its beauty and realism, while capturing the heart of the track and unleashing its message in an extremely powerful manner.
Inspiration while touching on a dark side of the world, ‘Bystander’ showcases the addictive power of Marcus Eaton, while urging us to be better people. From the unique opening to the merger of guitars and strings, the melody has you moving to the music while riding into the message of the lyrics. Eaton’s performance slides through the music to turn your attention to the world around you, before rising on the wings of inspiration to be a better person.
Find out more about Marcus Eaton on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
