The feeling of waking up on a fall Sunday morning and looking out the window on a beautiful day has been distilled into sonic form via Doo Crowder’s newest release titled “Gratitude.” The song feels light, it feels crisp, and combined with lyrical content that lives up to the title, creates a track that leaves the listener feeling better than when they first pressed play.

The music in “Gratitude” is light and airy throughout, but undergoes several distinct changes that give the track character. From the beginning of the song until the 1:20 mark the music flows, with electric piano and acoustic guitar playing chords and adding texture, and a melody delivered by a flute. The percussion is very light also, and sounds like a hand drum, keeping a smooth rhythm.

However, around the 1:20 mark, the song takes a decidedly different turn and heavier trumpets enter the scene, adding depth to the sound but not overpowering the already present elements. The introduction of trumpets act as a smooth segue to the entrance of heavier percussion and electric bass that occurs around the 1:40 mark, ramping up the pace and excitement for the track. Overall, I was a big fan of the musicality of this piece, and I enjoyed how the music acted as a stage for the lyrical content, which seemed to be the purposeful center of the track.

Doo Crowder, in the Instagram post accompanying “Gratitude’s” release, wrote that he “tried to create a portrait of gratitude… mostly for my mom but for other friends too.” Mission accomplished. Lines like “give thanks with every breath you take” make the lyrical content of the song straightforward. I also enjoyed the self-reflection incorporated into the lyrics. Lines like “why am I so quick to anger?” give an especially introspective feel to an already introspective track. I enjoyed the duality that was explored between gratitude and peace with oneself. In keeping with the theme of duality, every lyric is sung by both Doo Crowder and Celie Dailey. The two voices blend well together, with Celie Dailey’s voice being much more salient in the final mix, and Doo Crowder’s deeper voice supplying a strong foundation. I was a big fan of the vocal delivery and how both singers sang both articulate lyrics and also melodic notes. In my opinion, nothing smooths out and calms down a track more than melodic hums and smooth vibrato!

Doo Crowder’s new track encapsulates an emotion and distills it, and in my opinion, that is all you can ask for from music. The song is smooth, it’s fresh, and it takes you to a specific mental location. I am looking forward to new music from the Bristol, Wisconsin based artist.