Native Son Ramp Up For A Full Length Album With "Dead Man Walking"
- BuzzSlayers
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
A new single release from Native Son pulls together a slew of influences from classic to alternative rock with plenty in between, giving off warmth in its tone, but some very addictive riffs, melodically driving, and the whole thing boasts this unique breed of honesty that gets you attached.
I definitely love songs that feel connective the way this one does. You can really relate to where the vocalist is coming from in terms of those lyrics, as the song delves into feeling lost or held down by a certain situation, relationship, or just person in general.
Sometimes relationships can be a bit draining, and when that happens, you find a certain kind of lack of self-awareness and can feel kind of numb at times.
That's what this is really about. The song is about being in a situation that makes you feel numb, not just to the relationship or situation at hand, but to yourself as well. It's like you're walking around as a zombie and not really taking things in or putting things out.
It's kind of scary and happens to a lot of us from time to time.
The song does display a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel and the sense of the lyrics getting into a bit of a renewal and finding new life and dumping the numbness for an influx of liveliness once again.
Now, this is just how I interpreted the song. Others may take it in a little differently, and I think it depends on who's listening, but for me I love this sentiment and how it spoke to me.
That's part of the beauty of any kind of good music. Anyone can take it in or interpret it differently than the next, depending on where their life is at or what they've been through.
You take songs like this, and you relate them to your own situation or life, and at times it can cause memories of your own to pop into your head; others you take it in as the story is being told.
This track definitely tells a great story from a personal perspective, and again, it's so connective that you really can't turn away from it.
The track definitely displays some amazing guitar work, classic-style riffs that are really addictive and sort of hooky. There is a little bit of an edgy overtone at times, but it's not over the top. It's really well balanced, and throughout the track you have some great distortion, letting the guitars come through with that alternative backbone, but there's also piano flowing through the track, and this adds a different layer and texture to the entire thing.
I thoroughly enjoyed that balance. The balance of emotion and tone. The guitars are edgier and rougher; the pianos are more graceful and beautifully performed but still kind of intense.
The piano performance matches the energy of the rest of the band, which is really important.
The vocals are super melodically based, certainly giving some great hooks as well, and that chorus is really drilled in there so it bounces around in your head for hours or even days after the song has ended.
The only way to satiate that is to listen to it again, which is just good songwriting, honestly.
Once again, you can definitely hear the heavier influences coming through, but there's also that warmth I mentioned earlier.
The song has a bit of an inviting tonality to it, and I do think that comes from the piano as well.
There are some great sort of lead guitar hooks going over a lot of the chord progressions, and the vocals also match this kind of robust aesthetic that the band displays.
I think a lot of us can dig a song that comes from a genuine place the way this one does, but also sort of hits hard as well.
It's definitely a boisterous rock single with great layers, some depth that is really well portrayed lyrically, and that layer of honesty, giving the song a unique realism.
It's a bit of a vulnerable track. I like this because I think rock music should be displaying that sort of unfiltered honesty more in general.
These guys absolutely stick to some of their pop undertones, and keep things a little catchy, showcasing that they're able to write a song that has some punch to it, but also feels radio-friendly simultaneously.
The track is called "Dead Man Walking", and it's not one that you should Miss, especially if you are into hard or alternative rock with some depth to it.
After listening to the track, I wanted to have a sit-down with the band to find out where it actually came from.
So, while you listen to this single, have a read through of our interview with Native Son below, and remember where you heard it first.
Where did this song come from and what is it about?
‘Dead Man Walking’ comes from my real life experience of leaving a relationship that really smothered my creativity, and then beginning a new one with someone who inspired me incredibly. Over time I’ve compared that meeting to a meeting with a Muse, my fictional Voice that challenges me and inspires me and points me toward my next creative pursuit.
Did you guys produce this yourselves?
Yes. I engineer and produce all of our recordings, relying heavily on Ray, Rob and Tim for their input along the way.
Did you record this at a bigger studio, or a home DAW setup?
We recorded this at my home set-up, which was recently restored after a flood wiped it out earlier in the year. Recording there isn’t really a question of expense or affordability; it’s more a function of my inability to relinquish control of that aspect!
Are you touring or performing live right now?
The only thing we have planned right now are further recording sessions to capture the music for our full length LP, of which “Dead Man Walking” is a part of. We’ll evaluate each show opportunity that comes up over the next coming months, but our main thrust will be to record, and write new music. The upcoming video for “Dead Man Walking” is a retrospective of the many shows we’ve played over the past few years- it’s proof that we’ve paid our dues while we slow things down a little in order to produce this work of music.
What are some of your biggest musical influences?
I’m really influenced by Classical- I was brought up on the piano and had Classical instruction from ages 8-12. Vivaldi and Bach remain my favorite composers. I equate bands like Queen and Smashing Pumpkins as Rock bands that could incorporate nearly every other style of music into their Rock- and bands like that influence me greatly. “Dead Man Walking” is a very straight forward song, however- perhaps a nod to the times those above- mentioned bands put aside the experimentation and just went ahead and rocked.
What would you say people can expect from this release?
I think it’s an incredibly catchy hook, so listeners should (we hope) expect to get it stuck in their minds. I also think it’s a simple piece that’s thoroughly done, so it sits right there in a place where it’s not too dense but there’s enough lyrically and musically to hit repeat a few times.
Is there anything you are working on as of now?
As a group we just set a tentative schedule to continue the songs that are already written and battle-tested through gigging while new songs are worked out. There is no expectation or release date yet- the only requirement we’re placing on ourselves is to work hard, and to work joyfully towards its completion, to be thorough, to challenge ourselves and each other while not settling for anything less than our best- as we go through the process.
Before you go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
We appreciate each listener, and we hope you enjoy the depth and care that are put into the lyrical and musical ideas behind each song.
Thank You!
Lou Megna / Native Son
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