Here’s one for the lovers of powerhouse vocals – Colleen Orender‘s fifth single off her record The Company of Older Men is Love Me Harder, and it is a bluesy, smokey, dreamboat of a track.
Orender has been a touring musician for decades, and this latest release has been called a “perfect summation of her ever-growing repertoire”. The vocals for this track were recorded in just one take – any studio musician worth their salt knows that this is no small feat.
And it is those one-take vocals that are unquestionably the highlight. One can easily see why she might be compared to Adele on a regular basis, but her voice has an even deeper layer of smokiness and attitude that isn’t present in the pop star’s tone. Orender is perhaps more aptly described as where the soulfulness of Etta James meets the edge of Amy Winehouse. In fact, her sound brings to mind many of the great female vocalists of the last few decades, but that’s not to say she doesn’t have a style that is uniquely her own. It’s an impressive combination that is far better listened to than talked about.
The instrumentation in this track is a complete complement to Orender’s impressive vocals. This song is a fantastic hybrid of retro and modern in its arrangement – it feels immediately classic but is modern in execution. The forward horn section is a fantastic addition that adds a jazzy undercurrent, and the backing vocals take us back to the days of old soul music.
Love Me Harder is pure sultry, smoldering goodness from every angle. Orender calls it a “throwback to the blues and R&B records I loved from the 70’s and 80’s,” and we think she’s been wildly successful to that end. Many have claimed that the days of the best R&B and blues music are behind us, but Colleen Orender is a testament to the fact that this is nowhere near the truth.
—
BELOW: Listen to Love Me Harder and connect with her website and social media platforms. Please support Colleen Orender by visiting her online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing her music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
Follow, stream, download & connect with COLLEEN ORENDER online:
