Ray Johnson – Ocean Blue (2023)
Some people know their destiny from the off while others take time to discover what they are meant to do – Ray Johnson knew from the off. When Johnson was 6 years old, he began singing in the choir and at age 12 he started learning to play the guitar; he has not stopped since. In high school, he formed his first cover band and his prowess continued during college as he honed his sound. A second cover band emerged while Johnson established himself as a prominent feature in his local music scene. Soon after that, the US-based artist applied himself to songwriting and Saldo Kreek was the original band. Skip ahead a bit and Saldo Kreek is gone but Ray Johnson stands out as a solo musician.
Alright, brief biography over, let’s get to the meat of this review: ‘Ocean Blue’. Taken off his well-received album Appealing to Angels, ‘Ocean Blue’ retains Johnson’s signature acoustic folk sound. Similar to his previous single ‘Coffee and Toast’ (also on Appealing To Angels), ‘Ocean Blue’ has a laidback vibe about it with a carefree quality fluttering along the melody. Yet, despite the toe-tapping tranquillity of the song, there is a profoundness in the tenderness – a sort of “listen to this song and adore its charm but remember there is something poignant lingering”.
Poetic and passionate with its minimalistic starkness, ‘Ocean Blue’ is a simple song to win your heart. It is barebones in nature, but a kaleidoscopic quality revolves around the acoustic guitar and Johnson’s smooth vocals. Barely lifting his tone, Johnson holds your heart as he tells the tale of loss and love in a passionate way. Luckily, while vulnerability oozes from the tender single, hopefulness exists in the “believable and sincere” heartwarming story.
Genuine and honest, Ray Johnson wraps you in a comfortable sonic blanket with his new single ‘Ocean Blue’.
In addition to the single, Ray Johnson released an official lyric video for ‘Ocean Blue’. You can view the video below or via Johnson’s YouTube channel.
Find out more about Ray Johnson on his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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