New York-based artist Geonny first released his emotionally resonant indie-R&B single ‘Broken Names’ back in 2022 and now he’s back at the mic for the special live rendition of the song. Recorded in just two hours at The A Room studio in Hicksville using only a MacBook Pro, this revised version captures a special sense of warmth, immediacy and feeling that can often slip through the cracks of a more detailed production process.
While the emphasis is very much on Geonny‘s impassioned vocal performance, the stripped-back instrumentation is also a key element in bringing ‘Broken Names’ back into the light. From the very start, there’s that reverberated guitar refrain, which is carried on through the whole track. Alongside those sensual strings are downtempo drums, which go from bare minimalism to cymbal-heavy expressiveness. You can really feel that push-and-pull tension that’s so key to the song’s themes.
As original listeners of ‘Broken Names’ will already be aware, Geonny and his brother Alex wrote this song together in order to dig into the trauma, scars and memories that toxic relationships from one’s past can leave behind. With consistent lyrical contrasts between love and hate, intimacy and withdrawal, closeness and distance, there’s no denying the sentimental weight at the core of this soulful indie-R&B number.
With this DIY live version of ‘Broken Names’, Geonny proves that true artistry doesn’t require a massive budget. All you need is an uncompromising soul, a tight-knit band and something real to say.
You can also find ‘Broken Names’ in our Soul & Grooves playlist.
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