Shawn Brown – Road of Bones (2023)
For over 20 years, including the brief breaks from releasing music as an original artist, singer-songwriter Shawn Brown has been sharing his unique melodies with an intrigued crowd. His debut album Unremarkable (released in 2002) showcased his strong R.E.M. and Soundgarden influences – bands that played a role in him discovering his voice. Skip ahead a few years to 2012’s Chasing Streetlights and we have a softer, more folk-rock-inspired sound. Skip ahead even further to his 2021 “comeback” EP Angel of Oakland and Brown brings a unique blend of folk, soul, rock and guitar-driven pop.
In an interview with Bored City, Brown spoke about his decade-long break from the music industry between 2012 and 2021. He shared that “…walking away in 2012 was a real low point. I’d just had my heart broken by the industry side too many times and needed to move on into a new chapter which ended up being writing songs for other artists…”. Man, are we glad Brown decided to step back to the recording studio writing original songs and jamming with professionals on new music. The latest addition to his discography is ‘Road of Bones’.
Following the 2022 single ‘Testify’, ‘Road of Bones’ is considered one of his “comeback pieces to writing and releasing music”. Collaborating with musicians Rafa Lima, Grecco Buratto and Brendan Buckley, as well as being produced by Alberto Lopez and Robert Carranza, ‘Road of Bones’ is the product of an exciting and all-around fun project. Unlike ‘Testify’ which had a strong funk/soul vibe woven with a classic rock stance, ‘Road of Bones’ embraces a stronger 90s rock meets indie-folk sound. Interestingly, while the track has a nostalgic flair with 90s-inspired guitars, it also has a contemporary vibe slithering through the arrangement. Combining bold guitars with pounding drums and Brown’s rich vocals, ‘Road of Bones’ is a fierce song hitting you between the eyes but also embraces you in a harmonic hug.
Warm, comfortable and soothing but with a ferocity that stands out amidst the rest, ‘Road of Bones’ is an intimate song with an uplifting message. Brown explains that “this song targets those heartbreaks we all carry along with us and celebrates the resilience it takes to choose to start over…”
For more from Shawn Brown, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
