Bongo Boy Records, an independent music label championing equally independent artists of all genres and locales, once again struck gold; specifically, country gold. Meet Willow Layne, the pseudonym/project name for producer & songwriter Lisa Benedetto. Lisa, inspired by a family of music lovers and makers, and falling in love with – and privately writing – country music at a young age, presents her very first single, “My True Companion.” And after sharing this song, discreetly, with a trusted friend, said friend was brought to tears, convincing Lisa to finally share her secret music with the world.
Ready to hear the first sounds of Lisa Benedetto’s formerly private heart? Let’s talk about it.
Wait. What’s it about?
“My True Companion” is about rising again, and finding the strength – the hope – to do so. And that strength? It can sometimes come from the person (or Great Pyrenees) who, regardless of your loudly screaming self-doubt, knows your true capacity for greatness.
Listening, and talking about it.
The first thing I notice are the vocals – they have that confident country timbre, but are somehow more vulnerable regardless of their apparent wisdom. And their presence in the mix is exactly where they should be – right on top, and perfectly discernible through any instrumentation. In fact, the separation and clarity are so impeccable, it’s like the vocalist is standing next to you, and singing directly to you.
And behind this voice, the music is created through muted, gently plucked acoustic guitar, slide guitar sparkles, and either a deeply yawning organ or accordion. It’s definitely country, and offers such sonic separation and space one could hear such sounds ushered through wheat fields on summer afternoons.
It’s a quiet tune, and through the lyrics, songwriter Lisa tells the story calmly, beautifully, with the occasional, mesmerizing falsetto bending and darting before landing back to that soft, subtle storytelling.
And when the song ends, Lisa calls out her oft-mentioned “guardian angel” – the one and only Samson, her Great Pyrenees. It seems his constant support is responsible for granting Lisa the strength to carry on, and perhaps the very strength necessary to bravely share her music with a close friend.
But is it good?
I can’t believe this is a debut. The song is, moving, human, and not overstuffed with melodrama or sanitizing production techniques. It’s clean. Pure. Like it traveled directly from Lisa‘s heart to our ears. Is it good? It’s better than good – it’s real.
If you want to keep fighting but need some support? Simply listen to this song, and stop ignoring your inner Samson. He knows exactly who you are, and what you’re capable of. Highly recommended.
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BELOW: Listen to Willow Layne and check her out on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal. Please support Willow Layne by visiting her online and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing her music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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