West-coast songwriter Chase McBride has been hard at work since the unexpected success of last year’s full-length album, ‘Cold Water’. His newest single “The Color Blue” is a dangerously catchy, sun-drenched pop song with a flourish of 80’s synth melodies. Don’t just take our word for it, listen below:
This new sound is a gratifying progression of McBride’s trademark breezy folk aesthetic. His charming, laissez-faire vocal delivery sits atop an airtight arrangement, supported by guest vocals from Sean Hayes, a Bay Area songwriting fixture and longtime influence of McBride’s. The song was written while reflecting on a friend’s relationship struggles.
“I wrote the initial parts for this song while house sitting in Joshua Tree. I had a pared-down recording studio taking over a guest bedroom and was indulging myself by experimenting with electric guitar tones and staring out onto an empty portion of the desert. I was listening to a lot of JJ Cale at the time and speaking with a friend of mine who was struggling with a new relationship, continuously getting ahead of himself and projecting too far into the future. It was a reminder for me to enjoy the present moment, and resist attaching myself to my own expectations. The chorus lyrics reflect that sentiment, ‘I don’t want to move too slow, if this is touch and go, I want to feel it too’. It’s about truly living in a moment–taking life, relationships, or whatever else is happening one step at a time.” – Chase McBride
His new album, titled Green Shade, was recorded with up-and-coming producer Mackenzie Bunch at the Oakland, California studio of Jeremy Black (Langhorne Slim, Kacey Johansing, The Stone Foxes). Compared to his previous material, the new songs have a more upbeat tone and a wider sonic palette. Green Shade is due out February 9, 2018.
Fans of Brett Dennen, Kings of Convenience, and Michael Nau will find a familiar subtle-yet-strong power to McBride’s vocal delivery and endearing lyricism.
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