Our obsession with Eddie Cohn seems to grow with every listen. We have featured a slew of the talented artist’s releases, including the original and Downtown Session of his evocative, psychedelic-grunge Wave Goodbye, as well as the intentional and captivating, Who or What I Was Before, so when we head that Eddie was back with Keep Them Away, we were eager to listen and share our experience.
Establishing the mood with bold guitars and an astral nuance akin to a shooting star, Eddie sings, “I don’t wanna be the one who bums you out, I try to see both sides, the television will burn out both your eyes, it’s gonna mess up your mind…”
We are immediately enthralled by the philosophical message that the star shares, and the soundscape is sublime and transcendental, reminding us of the icons of the 90s. He comments, “This song is about trying to turn off all the outside voices and noise that get in the way of us having fun and living our best life.”
In Keep Them Away, Eddie invites us into a contemplative space, where the burdens of modern existence are both acknowledged and resisted. The track serves as a meditative reflection on the forces – both internal and external – that shape our lives, and the necessity of guarding against those that corrode our well-being. Musically, it is a tapestry woven from the threads of grunge, rock, and acoustic intimacy, with a nod to the influences of Pearl Jam and U2. The song pulses with a raw, organic energy, whilst signalling an evolution in his artistic journey.
The assembly of the track is as intentional as its message. Cohn’s multi-instrumental talents are evident, with his vocals, acoustic guitar, synth, piano, and percussion all contributing to the track’s layered texture. Brett Farkas’s electric guitar work, Sean Hurley’s bass, and Jake Reed’s drums create a sonic landscape that is both powerful and introspective. The musicians, each a creative force in their own right, were drawn together through serendipitous connections in Los Angeles, a city that thrives on the convergence of artistic energies. This collaboration, particularly Cohn’s reconnection with Farkas, underscores the track’s theme—of rediscovering what truly resonates, musically and personally.
Lyrically, Keep Them Away is a much-needed philosophical inquiry into the noise that surrounds us. Cohn explores the anxieties fed by news media and social platforms, urging a retreat from these influences in favor of a more intentional, joyful existence. The refrain, “keep them away,” is both a plea and a declaration, an anthem for those seeking to reclaim their mental and emotional landscapes. The song’s underlying message echoes a Tom Petty lyric that has become Cohn’s personal mantra: “Most things I worry about never happen anyway.” It’s a reminder of the futility of worry and the importance of living with curiosity and empathy, rather than fear.
Keep Them Away is a call to mindfulness, wrapped in the comforting yet urgent tones of rock. In this track, Cohn is not just making music – he’s carving out a space for introspection, urging us to be vigilant about the forces we allow into our lives. The song stands as a testament to the power of art to not only reflect the times but to offer a path forward, one where we can live more fully by choosing what to embrace and what to keep away. Naturally, we have added Keep Them Away to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Eddie Cohn‘s exquisite, growing discography!