Twenty-two year old singer-songwriter Jake McMullen cites Ryan Adams, Bon Iver and James Vincent McMorrow as musical influences – and after listening to his new single “Always,” those reference points make total sense. The song is an introspective, soul-baring ballad of loneliness, disillusionment and desperation carried by the conviction in McMullen’s voice.
And while the influence of those aforementioned acts are certainly present, I’m most prominently reminded of Country Sleep, the 2013 album from Night Beds, and the wonderful, wistful melodies heard throughout that record. Needless to say, this is a beautiful song by a young man who showcases a maturity level in his writing that is well beyond his years. Jake McMullen’s new EP Always is out on October 16th.
