Josh Raines’ new single, Two Bears, swells with the sensation of affection found and treasured, wrapped in soul-scintillating pop that flows with the boldness of a songwriter who has witnessed the mechanics of the business from each angle. Every elevate within the manufacturing kinds a melodic updraft, permitting listeners to ascend alongside the observe’s buoyant motifs—pop Americana with the heat and readability of a newly lower diamond.
Raines’ old-school sensibility is inescapable; it lingers within the cautious craft of his preparations, formed by a youth spent absorbing Motown classics and ‘60s and ‘70s pop, and later fine-tuned as he moved from indie band frontman to seasoned producer for artists like Zach Royal and Lexie Rose. This musical pedigree is obvious in the way in which he layers psychedelic colors by the combo, by no means overloading the senses however permitting every notice to resonate with that means. The pop-rock textures he brings from his teenage years floor within the guitar hooks, which refuse to be boxed in by nostalgia and as a substitute propel the track with a rhythmic pulse that feels alive and undeniably current.
Lyrically, Raines threads appreciation and introspection with the talent of somebody nicely acquainted with life’s sharper edges. The road “I discovered somebody who loves me” lands with the pressure of a revelation, distilling gratitude into a press release that’s inconceivable to disregard—when you really feel nothing, your soul could as nicely be on a mortuary slab. The gospel-tinged motifs and rock crescendos convey a thematic substance that effortlessly distinguishes Raines as a pop artist decided to remodel private historical past into one thing universally felt.
Two Bears is now accessible to stream on all main platforms; for the complete expertise, watch the official music video on YouTube.
Evaluate by Amelia Vandergast
