Joshua McCooey Returns With an Introspective New Single
Joshua McCooey returns with a single that feels very introspective as he delves into where he's been going for the past decade and wondering about his future self as much as his past self in terms of whether or not either one is as happy as the other.
You can hear these slight elements of confliction in the lyrics, but I think that's just part of growing up. I feel like this is a very personal track that delves into some of the things that we all think about once we reach a certain age.
The song is about being across the country from west to east. Loving the snowfall in New York City while wondering how things are back home on the West Coast.
It's kind of a full-circle type of track, and he really digs deep into that persona, which makes the song super honest and really rich with character.
The song is called "10 Years Ago," and I feel like this is one of Joshua's best tracks to date, especially lyrically, simply because he is really able to put things into a very specific kind of perspective.
A lot can happen in 10 years.
I think some of the confliction comes from wanting things out of life. A lot of people, especially creative ones, have a yearning to leave the place they grew up. They want to find something new because when you go to a new place, your perspective changes once again. You feel renewed on the inside as much as you are on the outside.
But there's always the aspect of being in that new place for a certain amount of time, and possibly missing where you came from.
The way Joshua puts it is in both geographical and personal perspective. He doesn't just mean there's certain elements of wonder when it comes to relocating or moving to a new place, wanting to be in a certain city or area, leaving home and finding that new spot, but also with personal life and how he feels on the inside.
Was he happier then, or is he happier now? What would he go back and tell himself 10 years prior?
It's really quite a beautiful approach, and it's deep thinking, which he communicates brilliantly with lyrics that reach out and grab you. Everything is relatable and makes amazingly perfect sense the way he puts it.
Keep in mind, this is how I interpreted the track. Others may take it in a little differently, and I think that depends on where they are in life.
This song spoke to me, and I also think it speaks volumes for Joshua as an artist. He's always been open and unafraid to say what he wants in his music. He doesn't sugarcoat much, and there's plenty of emotion behind his songs when he wants there to be.
Again, the emotions that relate to this track feel very introspective. He's being a little bit vulnerable, and he's questioning himself while still moving forward.
I think that's a healthy thing to do in general.
The song is warm in tone and starts off with an acoustic and an electric guitar layer together. The vocals are really robust but still very smooth.
After a little bit of time, a rolling snare comes in and gives the song this full-on Americana-style feel. This was a cool approach because I don't think I've heard Joshua take this direction before, but I absolutely loved it.
The Americana, or maybe just Southern tonality, starts really thriving in the track, and it becomes very lush.
In true Joshua McCooey style, there is a lot of pop sensibility that he holds close to his heart. He never loses that, no matter what kind of song he's writing.
He knows how to create a song with plenty of melodically thriving hooks that bounce around in your head.
He's also a great storyteller. This is one of the songs that boosts that to a new level for him. This, again, is my opinion.
I feel like he's digging deeper now, reflecting more, and is able to portray the thoughts in his head through his music with a lot more clarity.
This, again, is part of why the song is so connective.
I feel like we've all been in the place that he is in during this track. He is expressing a lot of the elements of wonder, confusion, and motivation all at once.
I think it takes a lot to write a song that boasts this much self-identity. Whether or not it's confusing or straightforward, he is aware of his sense of self. That, I think, is so important when it comes to any form of art.
No matter what, Joshua is able to express those emotions and feelings, thoughts and more, via his music. This song is an absolutely perfect example of all of these things wrapped up into one.
Once again, he puts together an amazing set of tones and textures for you to swim through, again, bringing a little bit of Southern tonality to the table, and holding on to some of the different influences that he has under his belt.
This is one of my favorites from the artist by far. He always comes through with some great songs that can go in different directions, and I feel like that's one of the best parts about Joshua.
This is a perfect example of an artist who is evolving all the time.
So, stop reading and start listening. Dig into "10 Years Ago" and see what it does for you.
Remember where you heard it all first.
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