Nate Sparks is a singer/songwriter from Chesapeake, VA, who has released multiple alt country/rockabilly albums and recently released an EP entitled Moonshine On. The EP contains four songs that cross pollinate between rock, bluegrass, country and folk.
Sparks mentions “This is a collaborative project from top to bottom with lyrics written and sung by me but tracks from Norwegian producer Jan Helge Ness, Nashville steel player and producer Gary Carter and my own production on the title track.” The EP begins with the title track “Moonshine On” which felt like a single to my ears. It’s a catchy tune with an upbeat energy and a memorable chorus. The song revolves around organ, crunchy guitars, bass and rock oriented drumming. Sparks has a serious country southern vocal that mixes perfectly with the music. It was a good choice for an opener that was accessible and easy to appreciate. “My Forever Song” is much more subdued, intimate and melancholy. It’s also a tender love song that seems to be about gratitude. The guitars are warm but twinkle and something about the song made me feel like I was resting by a fire. Sparks sounds great here. His deep baritone covers the mix and there are a lot of emotions simply coming from the vocals. The EP does a 180 in terms of energy when you hear “Grateful.” Something about this song reminded me of Bruce Springsteen if he leaned more into a country and bluegrass vibe. I loved the rolling snare drum on this song and the guitar work. The groove and upbeat energy is certainly dance worthy. This is the type of song you would want to hear in a live setting. I think it would be a crowd favorite. Last up is “Does She Ever Think of Me” which goes back into a similar energy of “My Forever Song.” The theme however is the opposite. This seems to be about a romantic separation. The song is silky and smooth. Although it’s quite melancholy the music itself feels like a bed of solace. It’s the most pensive song of the batch. This EP displayed some range in terms of the energy. I also felt the four songs did a good job displaying the signature sound of Sparks. The production and songwriting was top notch but most importantly the songs felt hornets and relatable. Recommended.
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