We previously featured Martin Tennant when he shared his soul on the poetic and introspective debut single, Forgotten Son, so when we heard that Martin was back with Underneath My Shadow, poignantly released just before the new moon in Cancer, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to share our experience.
Underneath My Shadow opens with a pizzicato guitar motif, expanding into a luscious and ethereal soundscape with an immersive bassline, textured percussion and atmospheric ad-libs. The opus expands with the lyrics, “All around, people don’t say a word, we drink and smoke, trying to forget this world, they say, we should all give it a try, but I stand aside, and I don’t know why…”
We are instantly drawn in by the introspective depth, originality, and deep-rooted authenticity that manifests with what Martin conveys. The mindset feels very real, and references a collective sunken place that society finds itself in.
He continues, “I’m falling down within, trapped in my own skin, I don’t know where to begin, underneath my shadow…” as the track expands into a thoughtful meditation on self-realization. Martin tells us, “This is a song about self-discovery and hope as well as the struggles in life.”
Fans of The Kooks, Dermot Kennedy, Lewis Capaldi, and Passenger will be able to connect with what Martin Tennant represents. The luscious vocal harmonies and middle-eight are sublime and really tap into a high emotional quotient.
We also realize how great the song would be in a film like A Different Man, Nino, The Book of Clarence, or Pillion, which all detail tales of men on their own journey of acceptance. The guitar solo before the final verse is also transcendental, serving as an awakening before the most self-realized message and climax of the song.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Underneath My Shadow to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Forgotten Son, and anticipate future releases from Martin Tennant.