Rose Above – Comes & Goes (2021)
The brainchild of singer-songwriter and producer Joshua Rose, Rose Above is a mish-mash of pop and indie-rock with undertones of hip-hop and soul. Rose began composing music at an early age writing his first song at age 12 – something he describes as an “awful combination of Maroon 5 and Green Day”. Approximately 12 years later, Rose has moved from producing awful songs to laying out engaging lyricism atop moving melodies. Bringing together an old-school Phil Collins vibe with contemporary Charlie Puth influences, Rose Above is bringing a modern-day pop edge to old-school sounds. The latest addition to his well-received discography is the single ‘Comes & Goes’.
The collaboration between Joshua Rose (vocals and keyboard) and Liam Reyes (guitar, bass and drums), ‘Comes & Goes’ is an acoustic-influenced ballad. The result of remote production, Reyes took “the record to the next level” layering his instrumentation atop Rose’s piano-driven sound. This is by no means to say Rose’s simplistic sound is pushed aside but merely enhanced with the guitars and drums.
Following the well-received single ‘Romans’, Rose showcases his innovativeness and evolution as an artist in ‘Comes & Goes’. Moving from a funk-influenced sound (including a horn section), the new single is smooth, flowing and melodic as a charming pop song. Beautiful in its simplicity, ‘Comes & Goes’ creates a hazy ambience with a wistfully innocent swirl. Think those misty scenes in films where the protagonist is searching for something outstanding amidst the trees and you’ll have an idea of what I’m talking about.
While the melody has a harmonic flow with Rose’s dulcet vocals, the lyricism showcases the poignancy of the song. Whimsical and mildly melancholic, ‘Comes & Goes’ is an introspective track reflecting on one’s sense of security and self-understanding. Using a personal narrative, Rose further enhances the insightful lyricism leading to a lingering self-empowerment in the haunting vocals.
Reminiscent of Phil Collins, but with distinctive throaty vocals, ‘Comes & Goes’ is rich and bold; however, there is a delicacy within the robustness as Rose explores the fragility of humans in the song. Overall, I love it – the intricate tapestry of music makes me feel calm and entranced by its bright sonic colours.
For more from Rose Above check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
