New Jersey-based folk singer Loretta Hagen has been refining her craft since the age of 9 when her father started her on guitar lessons. Throughout her career, which has taken her from Jersey to Nashville and back again, she’s released quite a bit of material, including Lucky Stars (2017), Mud and Stone (2012), Sundown Till Dawn (2008), and Something More (2002). Most recently she’s released a single titled Not Now, and this brilliantly written and intentioned track is just the motivational piece of music we could all use right now as we round the corner of one of the most difficult years in recent history.
Not Now is steeped in the styles of traditional folk despite its modern execution. Its base of delicate acoustic guitar gives way to a full band crescendo, full of pitch-perfect harmonies and an insistent Americana beat. Hagen’s voice is the perfect blend of soulfulness and brightness, a perfect and genuine vessel for the song’s powerful message.
The real highlight of this track is the most excellent songwriting. Hagen tells us this is “a song about hope and the will to survive“, and this uplifting message is on crystal clear display in this composition. The lyrics are uncomplicated and easily digestible, but still packed with plenty of imagery and emotion that it’s effortless to imagine yourself adrift at sea, fully engrossed in the story. The second verse is a particularly good example of this:
“I was side swept
In a hurricane
My knees hit the deck
With the pelting rain
I’ve been praying so hard
For God’s helping hand
I won’t let this be
The end“
This is true Americana/singer-songwriter music at its finest. A wholly heartfelt story told by beautiful and expressive lyrics, radiating authenticity and meaning at every measure. For lovers of classic folk sounds and compelling storytelling, Loretta Hagen‘s Not Now is practically tailor-made for you and a must-listen.
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BELOW: Listen to Not Now and connect with her website and social media platforms. Please support Loretta Hagen 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!
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