Toronto-based singer-songwriter Oliver James Brooks recently released the second single, “How It’s Goin,” off his third studio album, In A Little Long While, set to drop in November.
“How It’s Goin” is an upbeat alt-folk-rock track about the ups, the downs, the feeling of being lost, and the feeling of being found.
Brooks explains, “Some days you might feel like everything is working for you and the very next day, it can feel like everything is working against you. In today’s world, people get to choose how they want their life to be perceived by others, and more often than not, they choose only to show the positives and not the negatives. This song is my way of showing you both.”
His impending album, In a Little Long While, is a 10-track studio album written and finished over the last two years. It was primarily recorded at River Valley Studio, otherwise known as Oliver’s living room. Using gear from the ‘70s to record, mix, and master, the sounds wobble and the tape hisses. The main theme of the record is contrast, exploring the duality of day-to-day life.
Often likened to Neil Young, Kurt Vile, and Gordon Lightfoot, Brooks’ 2021 long player, Storm Chasing, was described as “hypnotic” by Americana UK, having “ominous vocal lines” by Indie88, and made the list of top Canadian songs by Exclaim! He gained radio airplay on CBC and The Walleye pronounced Brooks “a musician to watch out for.”
“How It’s Goin” opens with crying, bluesy tones, and then flows into a catchy rhythm made up of a fat bassline and crisp percussion. A softly gleaming guitar and braying organ infuse the melody with smooth, shimmering colors, highlighted by a dazzling guitar solo under careful control.
Brooks’ gentle, supple vocals imbue the lyrics with breathy timbres, giving the tune a warm, velvety haziness that’s irresistibly beguiling.
With “How It’s Goin,” Oliver James Brooks blends folk and rock elements into a delicious sonic concoction, one that’s ooh-la-la good.
