There’s a rusticity to the tone of the guitar strings in Jarret Forrester’s “Tonight” that I’m entirely hesitant to deem old school for one big reason; the melody they create is forward-thinking and progressively stylized. This sort of duality can be found in most every aspect of Forrester’s artistry, and his latest single might be the most identity-encapsulating performance he’s committed to master tape yet. His honest and exposed sensibility in the poetry that comprises the lyrics in “Tonight” is a constant focal point, and yet the instrumental portion of this track is arguably reason enough to give it a dedicated listen this March. You don’t have to be a big country fan to appreciate this man’s music, but for those who are, his recent release is utterly amazing.
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The guitar part here is matched with a potent lead vocal from Forrester, who puts a brooding spin on every word he sings whether light or forceful in execution. He’s a very methodical singer, and I think it’s pretty clear in this track just how much detail he’s prepared to put into a performance if it means making the emotion in the narrative all the more tangible to us, the listeners. “Tonight” could help to raise his profile as a vocalist more than anything else because of the passion we’re treated to around every twist and turn in the rhythm, and considering the kind of year 2020 was, this kind of soul should feel all the more soulful to country fans.
You really can’t go wrong with a simple country concept like the one used to construct the melody in “Tonight,” and this isn’t to say that Jarret Forrester lacked originality in his use of this specific formula. There’s a classical western sway to the words that is right out of the 90’s pre-crossover country playbook, but it’s made his own through a mighty and unmistakably Carolinian drawl. He wears his influences on his sleeve in this performance, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that; after all, in a time when so many of his peers are ready to cheapen the same contemporary aesthetic over and over, it’s nice to hear a songwriter whose music features his roots presented in modern terms anyone can understand.
APLE MUSIC: music.apple.com/ca/artist/jarret-forrester/1427087121
Jarret Forrester has been on my radar for a minute, and if you’ve heard any of the buzz surrounding his latest content, you’re far from alone. “Tonight” undisputedly lives up to the hype he’s created for himself, and it’s really just a small sampling of what his rookie LP consists of from top to bottom. I’ve got a gut feeling we’re going to hear a lot more magic from him in the next few years, and judging from the present creative trajectory he’s on in songs like this one, we should have every reason to believe he’s going to be maturing as both a lyricist and a harmony-based communicator likely at a much quicker rate than some of his rivals in the underground will.
Clay Burton
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