Track of the Day: Sarah Orton – You (2023)
Effortlessly blending elements of pop, alternative pop, soul and RnB with tinges of funk teetering on the outskirts, singer-songwriter Sarah Orton explores human experiences through a fluttering fusion of sounds. Raised on a mixture of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and 90s pop, Orton embraced her passion for music at a young age. Skip ahead several years and we find Orton forging a career in the music industry as a songwriter, singer, producer and collaborator. Today, we take a gander at her work as a solo artist with the single ‘You’.
Following her singles ‘Driftin’ and ‘Sun Meditation’, ‘You’ is Sarah Orton’s third single as a solo artist. Shifting from the electropop vibes of ‘Driftin’ to the funk styles of ‘Sun Meditation’, Orton adopts a disco-pop vibe with her new release. A refreshing breath of nostalgic disco beats flows through the melody; however, a strong leaning toward contemporary pop carries across the tune. Sarah Orton mentions that ‘You’ has a reminiscence of Mily Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’. For me, a slight similarity exists but Orton’s ability to transcend time and genres with distinctive vocals makes this sound entirely Sarah Orton.
Alongside Orton (vocals and drums), the natural talent of Graham Tracey (drums), Quillan Hanley (bass) and Chris Gestrin (keys) shine through on ‘You’. Not only does the sophisticated arrangement and production, courtesy of Orton and Sam Ryan, fuse the instruments into a kaleidoscopic swirl of sound; but it also creates a base on which the instruments reflect emotions.
Penned as a “simple love poem of being connected to someone despite the chaos…”, ‘You’ is a charming extension of pure love. Tracey’s drumbeat pounds away as a heart pounds in a chest, while the guitars and bass steer towards a sense of liberation and hopefulness, with the keys coming in as a reminder of utter joy.
For more from Sarah Orton, check out her official website, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
