With his new single ‘Walking Backwards’, Oxford-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dan McKean proves himself as an unparalleled wordsmith. Whether it’s central lines like “I spend my days walking backwards, that’s why I trip over my own footsteps” or low-key gems like “what do they mean when they say you’ll be fine, as if they have a window into your mind”, this artist has an uncanny ability to reach out and touch your soul through the speakers. Most likely, everyone listening to this track has at some point caught themselves in a cycle of self-sabotage, inertia and regret.
He distills a potent emotional intelligence into this buoyant, organic number, which offers a warm invitation to listeners for them to let their guard down… even if just a little. The laid-back guitars are reminiscent of Beatles’ 60s-era simplicity, the steady drums lay down an easy-going groove, and layers of subtle synths inject a shimmering atmosphere to the whole track. This isn’t a song for larger-than-life moments, it’s for those little bits of everyday, for those small interactions with others, for those quiet thoughts we hold to ourselves.
No doubt that McKean’s home studio set-up has helped to emphasise the downplayed intimacy that permeates ‘Walking Backwards’. It feels personal and communal all at once; a place to find group solidarity in our individual isolation. This unique balance really is reminiscent of introspective songwriters like Elliott Smith, Richard Walters, Randy Newman and Tommy Ashby. With more music inbound, we highly recommend that Dan McKean be placed firmly on your radar. We can’t wait to hear what’s next.
You can also find ‘Walking Backwards’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
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