We previously featured Melinda Joy and Son of Cormack as they celebrated unexpected love and meaningful human connection on the cinematic duet, Out of the Blue, so when we heard that Melinda was back with Too Late, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.

Too Late opens with astral keys and a brooding bass performance with textured drums as Melinda sings, “What you waiting for, better walk out the door, run down the street, feel your feet on the ground… Catch that train, stomp in the rain, dream your dream, scream your screams, one day soon it’s gonna be too late…”

The opus expands with vocals from JT Martin cementing Too Late as another duet which taps into notions of impermanence, desire and a message to inspire us to live our lives to the max. The chemistry between Melinda and JT feels super natural and wholesome.

In essence, the song is about refusing to postpone the things that matter in life. The repeated reminder that “one day soon it’s gonna be too late” feels like a solid invitation to actually live, to take the train, dance in the rain, chase the dream and say what needs to be said. In that sense, the message feels truly zeitgeist, particularly within a culture that increasingly encourages us to document our lives rather than fully experience them. 

There is also a compelling romantic dimension to the track, as the song explores the tension between two lovers who appear to be standing on the edge of connection or separation. This ambiguity gives the lyrics an additional poignancy, because the idea of “too late” can apply equally to chasing a dream, taking a chance on love, or simply finding the courage to change direction.

We could imagine Too Late soundtracking a pivotal sequence in We Live in Time, One Day, or an emotionally charged scene in Normal People. Interestingly, the duet itself came together almost organically. Originally inspired by a prompt from Melinda’s songwriting group, she was already working on the track when JT stopped by the studio. In a moment of spontaneity, he composed and recorded what became the chorus, completing the tune and taking the song in an unexpected new direction.

For some background, Melinda Joy is a multi-award-winning musician, author and filmmaker whose soulful, jazzy and lush sound has been described as “Southern Gothic”. A singer-songwriter and bass player, she interweaves poetic lyrics with bass and melody lines drawn from a variety of genres. Based between Austin, Texas and Mexico, Melinda continues to write, perform and teach across several projects, including Son of Cormack, HoneyBones and Ravens 5.

Her creative practice extends far beyond music, with a Ph.D. in psychology and creativity studies, alongside her work as the host and creator of the Syncreate: Empowering Creativity podcast. She is also the author of two bestselling books on creativity, demonstrating the same fascination with human behaviour, imagination and self-expression that permeates her music.

JT Martin, meanwhile, brings his own rich musical history to the collaboration. The former frontman of Austin glam-rock band Chasca, JT has spent decades performing, writing and recording across America and Europe, with experience spanning vocals, drums, keys and flute. His instinctive approach to music adds another dimension to Too Late, and his spontaneous contribution to the track feels like a fitting representation of an artist who continues to make music out of sheer necessity and creative impulse.

Needless to say, Too Late is another deeply resonant release from Melinda Joy, proving that some of the most meaningful songs are the ones that encourage us to stop waiting for the right moment. We have added the track to our New Music Spotlight and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to immerse ourselves in the wider universe of Melinda Joy and look forward to seeing where her ever-evolving creative journey takes her next.

The post Melinda Joy and JT Martin embrace impermanence, desire and the urgency of living fully with cinematic new collaboration, Too Late appeared first on KIMU.

Drawing us in with an intricate and glistening acoustic guitar soundscape, Melinda Joy and Son of Cormack open their duet, Out of the Blue with poetic prowess and a high emotional quotient. The opus expands with vocals from Melinda with the lyrics, “Stood in the doorway, Galway Bay, comparing notes as travellers do…” before Son of Cormack sings, “I leaned into your words, soft spoken and true, as the others fade away…”

We appreciate the build of the track into a captivating classic rock energy with a hint of folk and astral frequencies as the pair share the chorus in harmony. In essence, Out of the Blue tells the story of an unexpected connection that blossoms whilst travelling. It feels relatable and something that many of us have experienced before.

Through shared adventures, Melinda Joy and Son of Cormack discover a deep emotional bond with raw authenticity and this transmutes in the song and the accompanying, cinematic music video. The recurring refrain perfectly symbolizes an element of surprise and embracing hedonism through human connection – a dose of what we all need right now, considering the present state of reality. In the song, they have to part but their hearts remain. We could imagine this landing a sync placement in a movie like Irish Wish or Voicemails for Isabelle.

We learn that the song was inspired by a poem Melinda wrote whilst exploring Ireland’s rugged coastline. The chemistry between the two artists is tangible sonically and visually. The accompanying music video was filmed across West Cork, Kerry, Wicklow, and Dublin with some epic drone shots and has already received multiple international film festival honours, including Best Music Video wins at the London Vision Film Festival, California Women Film Festival, and Paris Women CineFest, alongside Best Music at the London Women Film Festival.

Equally impressive are the artists behind the release, with Melinda Joy being the author of two bestselling books on creativity and a Silver Nautilus Award winner, while Son of Cormack has earned recognition from BBC Introducing and performed on the BBC Introducing stage at Lakefest Festival.

Needless to say, we have added Out of the Blue to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to immerse ourselves in the growing discographies of Melinda Joy and Son of Cormack, and revisit the stunning, award-winning music video that so perfectly captures the song’s spirit.

The post Melinda Joy and Son of Cormack celebrate unexpected love and meaningful human connection on cinematic new single, Out of the Blue appeared first on KIMU.