alyson witt – ‘soft spot’
Upon the release of her debut LP, soft spot, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter alyson witt arrives with a pair of retro-tinged slices of soulful pop: “your name” and “stay.”
witt classifies her sound as indie-alt-jazz-pop-soul-classic-rock music, and as all-encompassing as that might sound, it hits the proverbial nail on the head. “your name” is a song that explores the lingering psychological residue of a relationship, specifically the way an ex can become attached to completely ordinary words and experiences. The song emerges with a vibe akin to “Dear Prudence,” and we are immediately drawn in by its warbling guitar notes over the thick tones of a bass. The vintage flavor is quite robust, and as witt begins her vocal performance, the harmonies reveal an even stronger Beatles influence. Coupled with a lo-fi rhythm, “your name” bridges the gap between the sounds of yesteryear and contemporary pop recordings. All of this reinforces the song’s theme of something familiar from the past being experienced in the present.
With “stay,” witt offers listeners another dose of retro-inspired sonic bliss, beginning with an electric piano that is eventually joined by a laid-back, melancholically hypnotic groove from the rhythm section. This darker vibe is echoed through the lyrics, as witt sings lines like: “I'm done chasing / Staring at the back of your head,” then conveying the emotional instability and uncertainty of the situation with “I'm tired of your opinion / Never knowing when you'll change it.” The emotional centerpiece of the song is “Why should I fight for you to stay / When you don't want me anyway,” a clear indication of a one-sided relationship, followed by the devastating contradiction of the final plea: “Please stay.” Of course, all this is packaged in a brilliant alt-pop vocal performance that, like “your name,” combines retro-soul with a modern edge that we can’t get enough of.