Stefan Dando’s latest single, “Hit The Road Again,” is a journey slit open with heartbreak.
Rustling percussion and relaxed guitar strums create an intimate opening for the artist to tell us a story of his bygone times. With the minimal instrumentals pulling us in with their gentleness, Dando’s voice becomes the star of the show and engages us for the rest of the track.
Thick, emotive, dripping with emotion and bringing sore injury with a grain, Dando perfectly captures the rawness of love lost. His passionate voice glides through the lines seamlessly, however dropping honey on each line. Tearing out the vulnerability, his vibrato rings with agony and brings the lyricism to life.
These lyrics are like diary entries, laying bare the emotional toll of a relationship where love wasn’t reciprocated. He sings of the long drives across the country with his lover, the car being a microcosm of a love on the verge of collapse. He gives us the window view of his car where he and his ex drove along on the long drives.
The title, “Hit The Road Again,” hints at a future beyond this heartbreak, a journey towards healing and self-discovery. And his car is taking those of us still burnt by love to a better destination.
Dando’s influences shine through in “Hit The Road Again.” Fans of City and Colour will appreciate the raw emotion. There’s even a touch of Deaf Havana’s introspective melancholy and a hint of Sara Bareilles’ vulnerability.
Whether you have ever lost a love or not, “Hit The Road Again” will sweep you away by Stefan Dando’s emotional honesty.
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Review by Naomi Joan