Johan Smits - Holes in my Brain
Country, Blues
Morbach, Germany
Overall Impression: "Holes In My Brain" is a fantastic combination of both the folk and country genres and clearly shines a spotlight on two of the most important aspects of those two styles, the lyrics and relationship between them and the lead vocalist. Johan Smits gives an engaging and truly sincere performance that's filled with both a great amount of heart and genuineness, the result is a particularly soothing listening experience that is full of charm and a striking amount of spirit
Strongest Point(s): As already touched upon, the lyrics and lead vocals are woven together in a truly harmonious fashion, and there's a genuine level of humanity and feeling in Johan's performance that you can't help but find both graceful and alluring. The way the song weaves together its elements of folk and country is inspired and Johan does a marvelous job of striking a delicate balance between the two, this will undoubtedly help the song appeal to fans of both these styles and broaden its appeal to a wider audience. Particular merit must also go to the arrangement, it's clear a lot of thought has gone into how the song's various sections connect and transition between one another as well as how the instrumentation is used to subtly create contrast in the track's texture. As an example, by keeping the instrumentation sparse in the opening a great amount of focus is placed upon establishing a strong vocal and lyrical relationship, by then thickening out the instrumentation in the verse and chorus sections, the already strongly established relationship can be further strengthened far more effectively.
Target Audience Appeal: "Holes in my Brain" is a great blend of country and folk and I'm sure fans of these genres will find themselves definitely connecting with the track.
Artist target suggestions: Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, The Eagles, Randy Travis, Brooks & Dunn, Waylon Jennings, Kenny Rodgers, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Gary Allan, George Strait, Simon & Garfunkel
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.