John Otto Young - See the Light
Alternative/Alt. Rock, Blues, Rock
Connecticut, United States
Overall Impression: Bright, brassy and full of soul, John Otto Young's "See the Light" brings listener attentions to their own internal source with a jubilant, Gospel-infused Blues Rock sound - drawing from the deep and wide well of Americana to deliver an experience that resonates with the spark in all of us!
Strongest Point(s): There's a whole lot of power in the sound that John Otto Young is putting out in "See the Light" - from the powerful and pocket-savvy instrumental performances to the message at the core of the song, the entire experience is cohesive and consistently engaging! A nice, laid-back feel supports warm keys and mellow horns as John delivers rich vocals with a clear focus on the song's jubilant and deeply meaningful lyrical content. Gospel backing vocals further elevate the spiritual resonance of "See the Light" with stellar performances that serve to enhance the song's texture and emotional gravity brilliantly! Subtle but effective decisions like the brief drop into half-time at the start of each line of the bridge at 2:44 give more weight to the moment and showcase an excellent attention to detail - deeply immersing listeners in the musical space that John and his talented allies have so carefully constructed!
Target Audience Appeal: The central message of "See the Light" is for everyone with a pulse - though the specific sound and stylization achieved by John Otto Young, Paul Opalach and Patrick Nichols throughout the recording are bound to appeal to fans of Americana in all it's sub-genres, with heartfelt Blues and Gospel Rock energies at its core! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Ray LaMontagne, The Revivalists, Justin Townes Earle, Mt. Joy, Johnnie Taylor, Alexi Murdoch, Lake Street Dive, Eric Clapton, Drive-By Truckers, The Wood Brothers, Rayland Baxter, Langhorne Slim, Houndmouth, Busty & The Bass, The Brook & The Bluff, Van Morrison
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.