Carson Beyer's a name to keep on your radar.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Kenucky-born and Nashville-based country singer-songwriter, he’s as authentic as they come. He sings and writes from the heart, vulnerably bearing his own lived experiences and life lessons learned in his music.
In 2018, he released his debut single, “Bones”, which has since been streamed an impressive 4M+ times on Spotify. Earlier this year, Carson introduced his new artistic direction with the release of “Next To You”- an upbeat contemporary country love song that has been spun over 156K+ times on Spotify alone. In the months that followed, he released his tracks “Didn’t See Going”, “In The Dust” and “Just Boots”.
On July 19th, he released his latest single, “Grateful Dead”– a nostalgic and vulnerable track about a past romance that marks his fifth release of the year. He shares in an announcement,
“This song stretched me lyrically and melodically while still telling a story that hit home. It’s about that unexpected, unforgettable summer festival romance that disguises itself as love in the moment, where the small-town country boy meets the free-spirited hippie girl. The magic in that moment led to lyrics that take you on that trip with me, dancing to the Grateful Dead. The songs still echo in my mind and serve as a reminder that how even when the love fades, the music and the sounds can always leave a lasting imprint on our hearts.” (Beyer).
Produced by Logan Wall and penned by Jerry Flowers (Sam Hunt, Morgan Wallen, Travis Denning), Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, Karley Scott Collins) and Carson himself, the song tells the story of an ephemeral summer love set against the backdrop of a music festival– one in which he finds himself falling for a free-spirited woman named Skye.
Within the track, Carson also makes a nod to the iconic Woodstock 1969– a music festival that was an opportunity for music lovers to unite peacefully in a time of political & civil turmoil and protest. The 4-day festival offered an escape from their reality. Much like the festival, the track feels like a moment paused in time– perfectly capturing that feeling of nostalgia and youth. Evidently, Carson has a strong ability to paint a scene through his lyrics, that listeners can imagine themselves being there.
Sonically, it’s a bit slower and more stripped down than some of the other tracks in Carson’s discography– making it much closer to a classic country ballad. With a beautiful piano opener that sets the tone for the rest of the track, it leaves room for Carson’s signature smooth vocals to take centre stage. Carson also draws upon influences from multiple genres, making the track quite versatile and opening the floor to fans on every side of the country music spectrum.
To accompany the new track, Carson released an official video which fans are encouraged to check out on YouTube.
THE VERDICT
Overall, “Grateful Dead” is another solid release from the singer-songwriter. It’s also the perfect track for summer’s close and to celebrate the recent 55th anniversary of Woodstock. Country fans should give it a listen and stay tuned for what’s to come.
Fans are also encouraged to follow Carson on socials so they can stay in the know with all his future releases and on Bands In Town so they don’t miss any of his upcoming shows.
Listen to "Grateful Dead" Now:
Stay in The Know with Carson Beyer:
Beyer, Carson. “Grateful Dead”. Spotify, Twelve6 Entertainment. LLC. Jul 19 2024. <https://open.spotify.com/track/30qMSSZgwelSxGFRL0Ly0w?si=874e043f874d4c04>.
Beyer, Carson.“Grateful Dead Out Now”. Jul 19 2024. Announcement/newsletter.
Beyer, Carson. “Carson Beyer- Grateful Dead (Official Video)”. YouTube, uploaded by Carson Beyer, Jul 19 2024, <https://youtu.be/-aJBhgrHGkM?si=bykDAZ6uctvzPgpL>. Accessed Jul 19 2024.
Unknown, “Featured: Official cover art for Carson Beyer’s latest single, “Grateful Dead”. Graphic courtesy of Carson Beyer. Accessed Jul 19 2024.
Unknown. “Featured: Country singer-songwriter, Carson Beyer. Graphic courtesy of Carson Beyer. Accessed Oct 1 2024.
The post REVIEW: Carson Beyer Sings of Ephemeral Love in Nostalgic New Single, “Grateful Dead” appeared first on Kyla Pearson.