I’m not sure there’s any feeling greater than falling in love with new music. You know the feeling, that head over heels sensation that makes you want to stand on a street corner and tell everyone they need to listen to it. That’s the way I feel about Nick Keogh’s debut EP, 20 and Bored.
I’m not always so quick to impress. Sometimes it takes me a few listens to really gel with new music. But when I hear something this good, it’s like a bolt from the blue. I was hooked from the folky acoustic guitar intro of “Sweater Weather.” It’s such a beautiful song, but there’s more where that came from. As I continued listening, I fell just a little more in love.
This kind of folk-pop music is right up my alley. It’s introspective, with lyrics that are powerful in their relatable simplicity. The acoustic melodies are so gorgeous. Nick’s voice is warm and welcoming. It stands up on its own, but I also love hearing it contrast with the sweet, feminine tones of his special guest vocalists. Nancie Shipper joins him for “Red Flags,” an uplifting track that looks back on mistakes made in past relationships. Another stunning duet, “Let Me Let You Down” with Stella Who follows. Nick has a knack for creating these songs that sound so optimistic sonically, but the lyrics reveal darker truths. There’s heartache, regret, shame, the whole messy human experience.
“Baby Blue” continues the trend. The first part sounds like the sort of song you might sing along to with your drinking parties on a fun night out, but the cutting lyrics swipe at an old love. Part two is softer, the other half of the story, more reflective, the sort of song that might come out when the friends have gone home and the booze is wearing off. The simple, unadorned acoustic guitar melody and heart-on-sleeve powerful vocals of the final track “Outliers” is everything I love about Nick’s music.
Naming your EP 20 and Bored hardly raises expectations. But this music is anything but boring. This special collection of songs has quickly made Nick Keogh one of my favourite Aussie artists. If you’re near Albury, click through for tickets to his show tomorrow night in Birddog.
Image credit: Mike Ridley