Establishing the mood with a glistening guitar soundscape, performed with intricacy and cinematic allure, Eric Osterhout opens The Stillness Before The Rain with poetic prowess as he sings, “Sitting on the tailgate watching clouds roll in, talking about the roads we took and where we’ve been…”
We immediately connect with the poetic prowess of the song, and the charisma that Eric Osterhout delivers his sentimental values with. The astral synth reminds us of early Dire Straits, whilst Eric’s storytelling has an almost Bob Dylan-esque quality to it.
The layered vocals are sublime and we could imagine The Stillness Before The Rain locking in a multitude of sync placements, notably an Americana movie which taps into similar themes that are reflected in the prose. These could include films like Twisters, The Devil and the Daylong Brothers, The Ballad of Wallis Island, and the music documentary Coastal.
Beyond its evocative imagery, The Stillness Before The Rain also delivers a masterclass in pacing. The restrained instrumentation mirrors the song’s central theme of anticipation and the quiet tension that exists just before a storm breaks, both literally and metaphorically.
We learn that Texas songwriter Eric Osterhout designs his sonic universe around honest storytelling that captures the quiet moments in life when everything slows down and you can sense change coming. Naturally, The Stillness Before The Rain was inspired by Eric Osterhout’s lived experiences living in Texas where wide open skies, shifting weather, and everyday stories influence his writing. Eric shares how he wants the song to encourage us to pause, breathe, reflect and listen.
Needless to say, we are reflecting, listening and greatly appreciating Eric Osterhout’s contribution to music. We have added The Stillness Before The Rain to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Eric Osterhout’s wider discography, including Dollar Store Barbie, and Come Home To Texas.