Hump Day Hot Ticket: Von Smith “Long Ago Maybe”

Von Smith

I know it seems like I tend to focus on only a handful of the same artists from week to week, and maybe that's true. However, in my own defense, can I help it if there are particular bands or artists that I find exceptionally talented, and want to write about whenever I can, so that many people can discover this music, too? Is that really such a bad thing?

Also, if there are bands you want to hear more about or music you think I should feature here, you are always welcome to recommend anything you like in the comments section! I certainly do not mind showcasing new music whenever I can.

Now that this disclaimer is out of the way, I can talk about the new video from Von Smith! For me, he is a singer that can do no wrong. I love everything he sings—whether it's with Postmodern Jukebox or on his own—Von has such a distinct, versatile voice that he can sing anything...which, in many respects, he does. More than this, he can sing anything and sound great doing it, which not many singers can do. This is not a knock on amyone; many vocalists out there are the gold standard in their particular genre, but would never sound exactly right singing another style. While Von particularly shines on more R&B or pop sounds, I have the feeling that if he ever wanted to make a rock album, or dabble in something more avant-garde,  he would be brilliant at that as well. He just has that type of voice, the kind that fits in anywhere, and is addictive to listen to—a combination that even some of the vocal greats do not possess.

If you watch the video for “Long Ago Maybe”, you might be able to understand what I mean. The song is stripped-down, not a lot of bells and whistles—just an acoustic guitar and Von's voice—but it's all you need. The power and emotion in his voice carries the song with the same weight as if he were being backed by a full orchestra. His vocals just pick you up and lift you away, until you are completely lost in the song. His higher notes are more subdued, instead of putting it up in the forefront, as is expected. Visually, the video is equally straightforward: Von sits on a stool and sings, while guitarist Matt Appleton sits beside him and plays his acoustic guitar. If this song of heartbreak doesn't put tears in your eyes, then you have either never really loved before, or you are the one doing the heart-breaking. I'll let you decide. I'm not here to judge!

For more information on Von Smith, visit his official website.

Hump Day Hot Ticket: Von Smith “You Don't Exist”

Von Smith

As much as this blog is dedicated to rock and metal music, once in a while I do like to explore other sounds as well. My musical tastes aren't just limited to what you read about here; from classical to R&B, I enjoy a wide range of music that, for the most part, never gets written about on this blog. However, every now and then, the occasional bright shining star from these other genres will demand that their overwhelming talent makes its presence known.

One of these is a singer I have written about before: Von Smith, a vocalist so phenomenally gifted that when I listen to him, I am completely lost in his symphonic pop world of grandiosity, wide-eyed optimism, and exuberant cheer (just listen to songs like “Carnival of Life” or “Nothing Like This”, if you need some examples). I could never completely abandon the metal, but I can run off with Von's music for a weekend rendezvous, figuratively speaking! He has a voice that captures you, and at least for me, I can listen for hours and still remain totally enraptured.

Even his songs of heartbreak have an uplifting, “I won't be beaten” sort of quality to them; anthems of empowerment that refuse to wallow in self-pity, and instead march on to bigger and better things, such as his song “You Don't Exist”, the video I'll be reviewing. The perfect post-breakup song, “You Don't Exist” puts it all out on the table and is unapologetic in its determination to beat that sadness back into its dark corner.

The video itself is a fun, playful theme: It starts out with a simple shot of Von, dressed in black on a black background, wearing his headphones and singing into a microphone. Then there is another shot on the top right-hand corner of the screen: a hand playing piano. Another image appears beneath that one: a man playing guitar. Soon the camera goes to a full shot of the band playing, while the shots of Von and the piano are each in an upper corner. Eventually some horns and a cello show up...wait a minute, there's something different about this band...it's all the same person! (Turns out the one-man band is Von's producer.) Whoever is playing the instruments, they are positively rockin' on this tune, as Von is hitting high notes left and right, and I find myself headbanging to this track, always a metalhead at heart.

For more information on Von Smith, visit his official website.