Rob Roth – Awol (2023)
For most, music is a cathartic release to deal with difficult emotions, situations and life. It is a means of escapism, discovery, connection and healing. Rob Roth is a testament to music’s healing power. Beginning his musical career in a rather different way, Roth’s artistry is shaped by battles with consecutive major sport-related injuries and surgeries experienced in his early 20s. In 2019, Roth trained with a vocal coach who compared his voice to Chester Bennington and a couple of years later he kicked off his career by writing his original song ‘You’re Long Gone’. Seven more singles and an EP followed but we are dipping our toes into his most recent release ‘Awol’.
Influenced by the likes of Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer and Avicii, Rob Roth traipses from alternative rock to pop and electronica – all evident in his latest single ‘Awol’. Bright and lively with a strong upbeat vibe, ‘Awol’ evokes feelings of joy and hopefulness in its cheery execution. Kaleidoscopic with a synth-driven sound, the infectious melody combines bold guitar riffs with lively, uplifting percussion playing around the arrangement. Based on its melody along with Roth’s warm, rich vocals, I can easily associate it with names like Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes or Justin Timberlake.
Known for his emotional, intimate melodies, Roth inserts moving lyricism in his “twirl around because it’s so awesome and bright” sounds. Penned with Ian Holmes and Dom Paul Feil-Roots, ‘Awol’ has a deeper theme at the core of the joviality. Delving into the corporate rat race where the motto is quantity over quality, Roth grabs feelings of frustration, helplessness and anxiety from those who have become disillusioned. He quickly tosses them about and a sense of freedom and empowerment emerges from his new single.
Sincere and brutally honest, Rob Roth elegantly portrays a journey of self-awareness, self-discovery and shedding the desperate clock of societal expectations in ‘Awol’.
For more from Rob Roth, check out his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
