The AJ Crawshaw Band - Video/Single Review: Life's For The Living
This Mental
Health Awareness Week brings the latest offering from The AJ Crawshaw Band; track that brings
light to the artists own struggles with serious depression, to the point that
he had planned how he would end it.
Life’s For The Living is a living testament that life does get better and passes on the words that helped him through the darkness and back to the light; “Just ‘cos you can’t see it, don’t mean it’s not there. Hold on, get help, take care”.
The track itself starts off with an almost melancholic vibe, using minimal drums and slow guitar to give the bare essentials that class it as song, until it builds and builds into a livelier, uplifting chorus.
Despite containing
a fast-paced guitar solo, the emphasis on ensuring the lyrics are distinguishable
and vocal styling gives the track a very specific sound. Whether it’s Band Aid
singing Do They Know It’s Christmas, Dave
Dobbyn’s Loyal, or Red Nose Day’s You Make The Whole World Smile, there is
a certain mainstream anthemic value thanks to Crawshaw’s vocal style, the grain
of which is reminiscent of Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
The accompanying video, whether purposeful or not, was well designed. Using a series of moving images and kaleidoscopic effects, there is a sense of constant movement. Despite a lot of repeated imagery, there is a clear transition from cold, blue grey imagery, towards brighter, colourful floral imagery. The video is largely calming, avoiding the use of a static image, which would feel stagnant.
A topic that needs to be discussed more in the real world. Props to AJ Crawshaw for taking the steps to do so.
About The AJ Crawshaw Band
Recognised for his distinct style of writing, which is fused with flavours of acoustic folk and heavy alternative rock routes, AJ layers his work with multiple instruments and vocals.
In true indie fashion, he records many components of his songs, arranging pop and rock instruments in an almost orchestral fashion.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for The AJ Crawshaw Band
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