We lose a chunk of ourselves in the bustle of the grind. Take New York, for example. It’s a city that never reaches to turn out the lights. It’s also the stomping ground for singer/songwriter, Saul Rivers. His soulful blend of pop, blues, and R&B is native to Brooklyn but is inspired by musicians who’ve reached legendary heights in music (Eric Clapton, James Taylor, B.B. King, and more…). Rivers’ latest track, “Waves”, is a quick glimpse into his world, or perhaps outside of it. “Waves” is about becoming detached from the anchors tied to our brain stem. It’s about having fun, enjoying the flow of the music, and letting the world roll off the edge of the table.
According to Rivers, “Waves” was written about 4 years ago, but it evolved over the course of various recordings and live performances. He added, “After all that time, the song really took shape and I decided it was time to record a studio version of the song after having released a live version on my last EP called The Pineapple Sessions.” A remix of the song is scheduled for Friday, August 30.
Scott Jacoby, the owner and founder of Eusonia Studios in New York City, produced the track. The Grammy-winning producer also worked on titles alongside Coldplay, Vampire Weekend, John Legend, and countless others. The song features Al Carty on bass, Adam Jackson on drums, and Eli Menezes on guitar. Rivers said, “I also had the pleasure of recording the song at Powerstation New England (New London) which is an exact replica of the world-famous Avatar Studios in NYC.”
I sit down and try to right my mind
But this time, I’m throwing it away
I just wanna feel for the first time
Without my mind getting in the way
Opening up this package is a mellow experience. The lyrics are simple and clean, the production is smooth, and Rivers’ voice is crisp. It’s easy to pick out the presence of Clapton looming in the background; the moody guitar tone is a nod in his direction. Bluesy R&B is an ingredient that Rivers’ uses in a slightly more complex recipe. If you pop open the hood, you’ll hear soft, reverberated pads and light keys lingering behind the lyrics.
Let it move my bones
From what we can tell, “Waves” could be a pivotal release for the songwriter. He said, “My goal is to create music that people can relate to and connect with…music that can help people to heal, reflect, change, and grow.” There’s no question about it. “WAVES” travels a little bit deeper than the lyrics suggest. Yes, letting your soul dunk itself into a good song is a wonderful thing; however, his song might also suggest the benefits of becoming unbound from the pressures of life and all the unnecessary minutiae. Maybe he wants us to consider firing the switchboard operator in our minds to enjoy the blissful feeling of letting go.
If you want something a little more tender, check out this smooth little remix by Zach Ezzy.
Saul Rivers probably has plenty more for us on the horizon. For more music and background info about him, visit any of these links below:
www.facebook.com/saulriversmusic
