Kev Adkins has spent more than two decades playing and recording, according to his bio, so it is notable that “Last Life” is the first single released under his own name. The Alexandria, Virginia musician, best known as the frontman and co-founder of Franklin Gotham, released it on October 9th as a banjo-led, stomp-and-holler indie-folk track with an Americana edge. Lyrically, it deals with connection, mortality and devotion, telling of two souls who find each other again across eras, with a chorus built around recognizing someone from a past life. UK producer Adam James, known for work with James Morrison and his own project In Waves, mixed it, and the single comes with a handcrafted claymation and stop-motion video.
Musically, it is a classic ballad that feels both epic and intimate. At the same time, it’s cheesy in the way the third act of a romance movie is cheesy, which means it’s actually genuine and heartfelt. The production quality is stellar. The drums are just incredibly punchy and cut straight through the wall of acoustic harmony from the banjo and guitars. The beat is driving, but it’s not harsh; there is a pleasant warmth to the overall sound.
Adkins has plenty of company behind him on this one. His Franklin Gotham bandmates Jarrett Nicolay and Brittany Valint helped shape the acoustic instrumentation, and Nicolay is the longtime creative partner with whom he co-founded that project in 2013, which his bio says has released nine EPs. Before that, he fronted the Celtic-rock band Icewagon Flu, which his bio says played club stages and Irish festivals for more than a decade. “Last Life” is a good look at what he sounds like out front under his own name, with familiar collaborators close at hand.
