Reid Parsons Blends Folk, Soul, and Bossa Nova in Her Single “Back to Back,” a Tender Ode to Partnership
Sometimes, a single melody conjures the memory of bright sunlight dancing upon an heirloom tapestry, weaving a sensation that is simultaneously comforting and mesmerizing. "Back to Back," the fresh folk offering from Vermont-based singer-songwriter Reid Parsons (they/she), encapsulates this phenomenon with a gentle bossa nova undercurrent that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. The track’s chill, soulful essence wraps listeners in a cloak of warmth, offering a delicate reflection on how partners find solace in parallel yet distinct orbits. Recounting the interplay between personal independence and unwavering support, Parsons celebrates stability and acceptance in an almost cinematic embrace.
Yet, some might crave a bit more dynamic expansion, as the gently undulating tempo occasionally drifts too evenly, potentially lulling the ear into complacency. Nonetheless, Parsons’s vocals—elegantly expressive and steeped in authenticity—elevate the piece to a timeless realm, assisted by Ben Collette’s deft direct-to-tape engineering. It’s a testament to how unassuming instrumentation can transport listeners to a realm where sincerity reigns supreme.
Freely roaming between folk and soul, it resonates with honesty that never feels contrived. Equally captivating is Parsons’s penchant for weaving divergent genres—jazz, blues, soul, funk, and more—into a cohesive tapestry. Their lyricism, like carefully curated brushstrokes, leaves ample space for personal interpretation, empowering listeners to internalize the narrative on their own terms. The sonic palette beckons the curious and the reflective alike. "Back to Back" exudes a tranquil glow, inviting all who encounter it to pause, breathe, and bask in the gentle synergy of two hearts standing side by side.
Enjoyed the read? Consider showing your support by leaving a tip for the writer
TRENDING NOW
If a Lagos sunset could speak, it might slur its words with a grin and hum Shayo under its breath—half celebration, half confession. Dumomi The Jig’s latest Afrobeats offering is…
Much like discovering an old photograph tucked in the pages of a borrowed novel—faded yet charged with memory—dwn bad’s debut EP, Good Luck Have Fun, resonates deeply with the complex tapestry of youthful yearning…
If a disco ball had fangs and your heartbeat synced with the strobe, Mothé’s Claw would be the fever dream you danced into at 3:17 a.m. on a rooftop in heat-ripened Los Angeles. This is no coy flirtation…
Some mornings feel like crawling out of wet cement — slow, deliberate, and unsure if you'll make it out intact. “Drifting into Darkness” by Pat Smith captures that very sensation, not with melodrama…
When grief sits beside you like a rain-soaked dog, quiet and uninvited, heaven will have to wait by Flora Cash offers the kind of sonic shelter you didn’t know you needed. This is not a song—it’s a balm…
If music could manifest itself as a dazzling carnival mirror—reflecting familiar shapes but distorting them into thrilling, novel perspectives—then Jackson Breit’s audaciously inventive album…
Imagine an antique kaleidoscope held to a blood-orange sky: twist the barrel and fragments of dusk rearrange themselves into new geometries each second. That optical vertigo…
Listening to New York-based singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist Shayfer James' new opus, Summoning, feels much like wandering into an enigmatic carnival after midnight—each step illuminated…
If love were a strobe light flickering inside a fogged mirror, Naomi Scott’s “Rhythm” would be the pulse thudding beneath its haze. Her return to the musical arena isn’t a grandiose…
Legend whispers that the Camino de Santiago begins the instant one steps outside the door; similarly, Plàsi’s EP Camino starts the moment its first note brushes the cochlea, inviting the listener…