High Notes

Every month I try to talk about music that I love. Sometimes the pickings are slim and sometimes not. This month I’m happy to say that a band called The Heavy Hours have made my job very easy. In July of last year, they released a true gem of a song called “Don’t Walk Away.” Although I’m thrilled to have discovered it, I can’t believe I didn’t hear about the song sooner. It has such a bright and sunny feel to it. And with Spring here, it feels like the perfect tune to talk about.

“Don’t Walk Away” begins with an exceptionally sung melody which is accompanied by a strummed acoustic guitar, bass, snappy drums, and happy sounding hand claps. As the verse melody repeats, a mellow sounding Roads piano is introduced which loosely follows the topline creating an interesting sonic texture with the sound of the already established arrangement. At the end of the second verse an ingenious melody variation is implemented which adds a lovely bit of tension just before the chorus is delivered. “Don’t Walk Away” holds up against the best of them and the chorus is a big reason why. During the chorus we hear big booming group vocals singing the easy-to-remember words with a sound and energy that lifts one’s spirit. I could not help imaging a concert hall full of happy people belting this song out with the band.

Interestingly, Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys front man) co-wrote “Don’t Walk Away.” Auerbach’s influence is heard throughout the song. In fact, “Don’t Walk Away” sounds like it could have been part of Auerbach’s second solo album, “Waiting on a Song”, a work I highly recommend. The similarity between Auerbach and The Heavy Hours, in no way, lessens the band’s credibility, but instead reflects the impressive distinction that they possess in contrast to the sea of bands out there. The four-piece from Ohio is cut from the same cloth as the best of them.

The sound of “Don’t Walk Away” shines out like a breath of fresh air. From the Motown vibe of the horn section to the woodsy warmth of the acoustic guitar to the tight delay and reverb which gives Kelvin Swaby’s vocal such an enjoyable shimmer. The textures and tones of the song come together to create a sound that feels light and effortless. Each part shares the sonic space in a way that feels smooth and natural. Although I enjoy every element of this song, the magic of “Don’t Walk Away” is in the harmony created by the sounds coming together. This serves the purpose of create something bigger and more beautiful than any single part.

The Heavy Hours are just getting going with their career. As of the time of this writing, they have released three songs, the first of which was “Don’t Walk Away.” The band has garnered plenty of attention thus far being added to big playlists like Spotify’s “Rockn’ Vibes”, Apple Music’s “Breaking Rock”, Amazon’s “Fresh Alternative”, and many more. If you’d like to stay up to date with what is happening with The Heavy Hours you can follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you’d like to listen to the music, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most places music is streamed or sold.

Ron Powers is an independent A&R specialist and music industry consultant, and is constantly searching for, discovering and writing about new talent.