Picture by @caseynimmer

This review is a first - Bay Bryan is the first artist to be featured twice in the Artist Pick column. And for good reason, because they don’t cease to amaze me. “Let go” is the second single of their upcoming album “The Meadow”, and much like the first single (“Sticky Shadows”) it convinces with an ethereal beauty that pulls you away from the real world. I feel like this second single give us an even deeper glimpse at what we can expect from the project, further establishing a theme of self-discovery and self-acceptance.

I am a big fan of concept albums and Bay referencing his first single and the album title in the lyrics of this second one made my heart happy “Be brave and be bold love/When you go beyond the meadow/For there's more than just sticky shadows/Out there in the wood”. This is the kind of music that's really rewarding for fans: the surface is already beautiful, but the listener that cares to read between the lines gets to embark on a journey with many layers of delicate artistry.

“Let Go” has a more playful feeling than the previous single, building from a bossa-nova-esque percussion that makes you want to dance to the song. The song feels warm like a late summer day and light like the first leaves of autumn making their way to the ground. It feels extremely joyful, but the underlying message is one of resilience - of trusting your heart throughout the seasons and knowing it will keep you safe even after the summer is over. “And this fickle heart/Will try to find another start”.  Once again the Manchester-based artist finds the words to embrace both the good and bad in life, building from a deep love for what makes us human. 

I love it when a song surprises you by turning into something different, unexpected - but so brilliant you want to exclaim “Heck yeah”. I felt this way when the light acoustic arrangement with beautiful flute parts falls into an intense ending with stunning layered vocals and a different rhythm. It almost feels like the arrangement lets go of the clear structure it had up to then to fall into one big, freeing cry of release. “Let Go” is a song that reminds me of why I love music so much, both lyrically and musically it’s an inspiring song full of delightful discoveries.

This gem has been added to our "Indie Music" and "Artist Pick" Spotify playlists, make sure you follow the playlists below to discover incredible new music every day.

Written by Luna.

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Lyrics

Let go of this lush dream

So mild and inviting

I know we'll do the right thing

When we give it up

This spell we keep conjuring

And sadistically harbouring

It's charm is now floundering

Time to give it up

All the leaves are turning

Oncoming autumn is calling

For this fickle heart

To give the summer up

Take in these surroundings

Peaceful yet confounding

With no real sense of belonging

Time to give it up

Be brave and be bold love

When you go beyond the meadow

For there's more than just sticky shadows

Out there in the wood

All the leaves are turning

Oncoming autumn is calling

For this fickle heart

To give the summer up

Old winter will be looming

There where the blue will be blooming

And this fickle heart

Will try to find another start

All the leaves are turning

Oncoming autumn is calling

For this fickle heart

To give the summer up

Old winter will be looming

There where the blue will be blooming

And this fickle heart

Will try to find another start

Oh this fickle heart

Will try to find another start

Oh this fickle heart

Will try to find another start