‘Row Me Away’
Fast making a name for himself as an existential folk-rock artist, it’s surprising how uplifting Leo Sawikin’s music can actually be. The third single from the upcoming full length debut album Row Me Away, ‘Born Too Late’ is a driving, energetic lamentation about feeling out of time. It may sound oxymoronic, but that’s just the kind of artist Sawikin is.
BORN TOO LATE is out on the 1st October, with the rest of ROW ME AWAY out on the 22nd October 2021.
Taking cues from sporadic and seemingly unrelated moments in musical history, Leo Sawikin presents himself very much as an old soul in a young body. His music is very much inspired by this character trait, as it constantly feels simultaneously old and new, familiar and strange, content yet longing for something a little… more. Title track ‘Row Me Away’ encapsulates this perfectly with its feeling of looking for something new in an old and tired world.
The album as a whole tackles the anxieties that come with living in the modern world, feeling unsatisfied with the daily interactions which so often fade into significance when put into context of the wider picture. Never despairing, Row Me Away’s true triumph is its ability to acknowledge all of this discomfort and panic, and decide to soldier on, regardless.
“It reflects this feeling that you’ve missed out on the best the world has to offer,” explains Leo. “It’s kind of like trying to figure out what you do after everything falls apart. The pandemic, which none of us expected, gives the songs more power. In the old world, we could distract ourselves with our day to day lives, but now we’re forced to stare down just how fragile everything is.”
The introduction to this album cycle began with lead single ‘A Whole World Waiting’, which is a mature and measured response to always feeling like someone else has it better, that looks at the world’s problems and wonders why there is such a lack of compassion. Instead, compassion and companionship is created through his music. The title track followed. ‘Row Me Away’ was characterised by an other-worldly vibe mixed with nostalgic grunge elements from the ‘90s.
The third single from the album cycle is ‘Born Too Late’, a driving number which instantly smacks of the Beatles’ Helter Skelter as well as Bruno Mars and Sawikin’s beloved Carol King. Beautiful, fragile, soulful and spirited all at once, ‘Born Too Late’ acts as the perfect album teaser and introduction, setting up Row Me Away to be the perfect introduction to the artist who sees things as they are, but has the strength to carry on through it all anyway.
BORN TOO LATE will be released on the 1st October, with the rest of the album, ROW ME AWAY, to follow on the 22nd October 2021.
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