REVIEW: Nathan Harrington - Hold On Me (SINGLE)
When asked what’s it’s like be a musician, living and working in Los Angeles, Nathan Harrington likes to joke that it’s oversaturated. Actually, he’s not kidding, but of course, such a notion isn’t much of a surprise. It doesn’t seem to be impeding his progress in the least, as Harrington just released a new single, “Hold On Me.” Harrington’s style is described as Reggae flavored Singer/Songwriter. Think Jason Mraz, with long hair and a surfer aesthetic.
WEBSITE: https://www.nathanharringtonmusic.com/
One of my favorite things about the mix on “Hold On Me,” is how Harrington’s vocal is placed. It’s right on top of everything, giving you a more a personal connection, with the fragmented narrative he recites. The lyrics are poetic and heartfelt, and in my opinion, the song elicits the emotions it intends to. Harrington’s character in the song, is deeply entangled in the opening stages of a love affair, and for anyone who has ever experienced that, the track’s ambience is fitting. Harrington doesn’t overplay it, or veer of course, which ultimately adds a crucial layer of sincerity to the piece.
The Reggae is in full swing, here, as we get that trademark staccato to open the song, accentuated by some mighty impressive percussion. Musically, everything is pristinely arranged, and as a result you lose yourself in the song, before you can even form an intellectual opinion. Call me idealistic, but that’s a good thing in my view. We get some backing vocalists to add some invaluable female energy to the piece, which only makes Harrington’s vocal shine, brighter. He’s the masculine type, with a sensitive aura.
And from the moment I saw you/I just knew I’d do whatever it took/to prove myself to you/whatever a man’s gotta’ do. Chivalry is not only alive, but its thriving in Nathan Harrington’s reality. Some songs aim for romance, but end up straying off the initial path, but “Hold On Me,” retains its sentiment from the opening note. Again, much of this is attributed to Harrington, himself, as he never lays it on too thick, but just enough to come across as genuine. “Hold On Me,” ends up coming across as a love note, that took an entire day to write, until arriving at the most poignant words.
In the video for “Hold On Me,” we see Harrington and a young blonde lady, in a variety of settings. The two can’t seem to keep their eyes off of each other, as Harrington strums an acoustic and serenades the girl with the title track. It’s not anything particularly gripping, but it’s shot and edited well. We know exactly what is going on, and the periodical shift in settings keeps things fresh, throughout. The video is on YouTube and can be viewed, now.
DISTRO KID: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/nathanharrington/hold-on-me
Nathan Harrington is being labeled as the future of Reggae, by many within the industry. I still don’t feel that he qualifies as a strictly Reggae performer, but Nathan Harrington does respectfully channel and even embody the genre to some extent. As young as he is, Harrington still has inevitable variations to undergo. Evolution is an exciting prospect, and Harrington should certainly embrace it. As for now, he’s got a hold on the Reggae Revivalist Movement.
Colin Jordan
