Following up on her powerful debut, Meanjin/Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Rosa Mack has released a groove-infused, sweeping neo-soul number, Love You Always.
In November last year, Rosa Mack dazzled with her smoky soul/blues/rock debut single When I’m Alone, which was received with arms wide open from her solid community and beyond. The track saw support from the likes of Double J, ABC Country, Triple M Brisbane, Scenestr, AAA Backstage and had plays across a slew of Australian community radio on stations including 3RRR, PBS, 4ZZZ, Sou
Floating in a limitless expanse, Rosa Mack’s latest offering in Love You Always is smooth, rich and romantic as it effortlessly melds soul, pop and a touch of laid-back space disco. This anti-gravity soul-pop number is textured with layers of decadent palm-muted guitar arpeggios, echoing keys that sparkle like stars and a deep cosmic groove that keeps everything structured.
Mack‘s tranquil vocals melt over the top with her intoxicating range and honeyed tone, making for a thick, intoxicating atmosphere. The track gets dappled with slow attacking horns, a whirling overdriven guitar solo, and then drifts gracefully out into space to close.
Written and then brought to Rosa Mack by the band’s guitarist James Pryce Davies, Love You Always encapsulates the experience of navigating through fear, where impulsive urges to flee have led to a state of being irreversibly lost. With the fleeting nature of life and the vulnerability that comes with it, when one is faced with their own mortality, there is an instant feeling of regret of not having done or said something. Davies states: “The song explores the thoughts of someone facing their remaining moments, wishing for the safety home and to see whom they love once more. As someone whose mind is prone to wander, I find the idea of escape very seductive. Not once, but two times this desire has led me to nearly become completely lost while hiking through the forest. Thankfully, I found my way back on the trail but the feeling of panic has stuck with me.”
When asked about taking on Davies’ song, Rosa Mack states, “It’s a vulnerable practice to gift your musical ideas to your bandmates. However exposing that may feel – I’ve found the process of granting one’s artistic expression to another is a powerful tool in understanding and relating to someone’s insight and perspective. It’s an honour to translate James’ work with my voice and offer my own authentic interpretation to audiences. I feel these words as much as I would my own, and I think that dynamic of trust can create something profoundly honest and soulful to share.”
Davies’ introspective exploration of longing and vulnerability finds resonance in Mack‘s heartfelt interpretation, as she infuses the lyrics with her own authentic emotion and perspective.
