The thing about pop songs is that they usually have to grab your attention from the get-go, as in the first 5-8 seconds of the tune. A pop song grabs you and smacks you in the face; it’s a sparkling wine as opposed to a Bordeaux. Savannah Conley‘s new single, “Never Wanna Be in Love,” is no exception to the rule. The ghostly, moody guitar loop at the top pulls our ears close, sounding like a texture pulled out of a Beach House record. Savannah’s voice kicks in shortly after, and it’s pleasant. Heck, it’s gorgeous.
Having grown up in a musical family, with a background singer for a mother and a session guitarist for a father, it’s obvious as to who first inspired Conley to get into music. Also, we’re just going to assume that anyone growing up in a city as musically rich and diverse as Nashville, Tennessee will probably get some fine music into them through osmosis anyway. Conley was already performing by the tender age of 7 and winning the John Lennon songwriter award by 19, so this singer-songwriter, while obviously still in her early years, is no spring chicken.
Nashville has never had a short supply of musical talent over the years, and anything that comes out of there seems to be imbued with some particular tones, evoking the area’s roots, while bringing something fresh and adapted to the table. The production on “Never Wanna Be in Love” is no exception, radiating a lush, spacious vibe brought with swirling guitar textures, along with a downtempo, trip-hop-type beat which sounds like a mash of acoustic & electronic drums, resulting in a fresh sound.
Much of the time, when hearing new singers, you may get a well-produced tune, but the vocals seem to be lacking. And the opposite also happens, where you get some amazing vocal workouts, but the music and production may be so banal as to be insignificant. This is why we get really excited when we hear an up-and-comer like Savannah Conley, teaming up with some obviously great and unique Nashville talent to produce her music. On “Never Wanna Be in Love,” the track wears her vocal as one would wear an exquisite garment spun from the finest cloth. It’s delicate without really trying to be. It’s dynamic in an age where everything just sounds a bit too compressed. She has heart, but she’s not doing it or showing it off for anyone else’s gratification. She’s strong and can hit high notes with ease while maintaining her natural voice. Honestly, this gives us a lot of hope in the present state of pop music, and it should give any jaded listeners out there some as well.
