Drawing us in with an assertive vocalization of the words, “I’m a man, a mighty, mighty man, I do what I got to do, I’m a man, a mighty, mighty man, I’m like a bolt from the blue, so into you…”, Brian Asha and Jack De Keyzer open the Jack De Keyzer’s Rock’n’Roll Remix of Mighty Man with a quintessential classic rock energy.
We immediately connect with the precision of the guitars, the layered vocals and the narrative that unfolds with a confessional approach of what we don’t need, tapping into a less capitalist energy with no need for fancy cars or movie stars, but the idea of being content with human connection and a disco ball.
The prose is laced with metaphors and poetic prowess. It’s grounded in reality and feels wholesome, in opposition of the present day ideas of toxic masculinity. In a very zeitgeist way, the song shows that there is no need to prove ourselves through material possessions or a carefully curated online image. Instead, the track celebrates a more playful, open-minded idea of masculinity, where being comfortable with authenticity is what matters far more than what we own.
Musically, the track brings together gritty blues-rock guitars, punchy AC/DC-style riffs and a bassline inspired by 1970s British funk band Hot Chocolate. De Keyzer’s guitar work gives the song its raw edge, while the backing vocals of Aria Zenua and Erin Reece add further dimensionality. We could totally imagine this playing in a film like The Full Monty or a movie like The Hangover. It could also work well in a TV show like Suits.
The story behind the track is also pretty interesting. Asha originally wrote Mighty Man as a tribute to Muddy Waters‘ Hoochie Coochie Man and Bo Diddley‘s I’m a Man, before bringing De Keyzer on board to give it a blues-rock makeover. Grammy-winning producer Philip Larsen, known for his work with Kylie Minogue, Soft Cell and Erasure, also remixed several tracks on the five-version EP.
All in all, it serves as the anthem for Mighty IRL, a movement Asha founded to encourage young men to disconnect from their screens and rediscover real-world experiences. Given Asha’s own recovery journey and decade of work counselling young men in the criminal justice system, the message comes from a deeply personal place.
Needless to say, we are obsessed, and have added Jack De Keyzer’s Rock’n’Roll Remix of Mighty Man to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Brian Asha‘s wider discography, including the original version of the song (video below), Beautiful, and One Star Falls.