Paul Vinson – Keep Up (2022)
There are shocks that come throughout our lives that scatter our thoughts and have us scrambling through existential trauma. This is something that Paul Vinson has faced and turned into the melodic, yet fragmented, thoughts of ‘Keep Up’. By working through his feelings from two perspectives, he brings a parallel of letting go of life and religious beliefs.
As he works through agonising traumas, he moves us towards a sense of freedom that can follow hard experiences. This emotional tale has been set to a tender blend of folk and pop that wonderfully brings the tale to life. Highlighting his outstanding ability to translate complex emotions into easy melodics, the rich tones of his sound will have you longing for more.
The acoustic guitar that opens ‘Keep Up’ brings a wonderful folk flow to the single. The flow of the guitar brings a vulnerability to the melody that makes the reflective feeling greater. While the folk tones are tender and intimate, the roll of motion that comes with a dip to the guitar brings an updraft of awakening. This uplifting movement is the first touch of the freedom that comes from getting through the tough times in life. The interplay between the melodic lines is fantastic and really enhances the emotions of the vocals. At times, there is a slightly disjointed feeling to the melody as the lines crash into each other like conflicting thoughts and emotions that pull you in different directions. This all moves into the overall melodic flow that steadily leads you into a delicate piano line that is packed with a freedom which leaves you feeling light as air.
As the melody brings the complex emotions of the track to sonic life, Vinson’s vocals have an almost confessional feeling to it. This is woven into a reflective flow that picks up storytelling lyrics. Through his performance, you are drawn into the melancholy and pain of tough times, only to work through them to move on to something brighter. The lyrics are wonderful as they draw fleeting thoughts into complex emotions that are so easy to relate to. As you move from one emotion to a new thought, Vinson has you feeling the journey as if it has happened to you.
Through the vulnerable tones and scattered yet melodic thoughts of ‘Keep Up’, Paul Vinson works through tough times leading to a sense of freedom. The interplay of melodic lines enhances the emotions of the single, while drawing you into the journey of the track. His vocals provide the scattered yet cohesive thoughts that flutter through your brain and slowly lead you through complex emotions.
Find out more about Paul Vinson on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
