The Next Me by Simon Orton: Review

by admin June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Simon Orton’s debut single “The Next Me,” released on May 16, 2025, is a heartfelt country ballad. Hailing from rural Australia, Orton brings a grounded authenticity to the track, steeped in the dusty warmth of the outback and the tender complexity of new fatherhood. The song captures the seismic shift that comes with holding your child for the first time, and the weighty yet hopeful realization that your life will never be the same.

Opening with the familiar hum of warm guitar strums and the gentle shake of percussion, the track quickly invites listeners into a quiet moment of reflection. The drums tap in, steady as a heartbeat, as Orton’s deep, gravelly, and incredibly tender voice delivers a spoken word that sounds like a private thought spoken aloud. As the melody unfolds, he eases into song with emotional sincerity. It holds the grit of a long day on the land and the softness of a new dad whispering lullabies in the dark.

What makes “The Next Me” remarkable is the way it transforms a personal milestone into a universal narrative. It’s an anthem for anyone who’s stood at the threshold of change—unsure, a little scared, but ready to step into the unknown because love has given them no other choice. The layering of guitar, percussion, and a subtle symphonic backdrop creates a field as vast and open as Orton’s own home country.

A student of storytellers like Paul Kelly, Simon Orton writes with restraint and resonance. With “The Next Me,” he has written a letter to the future of him. Be a part of it on Spotify.