Over the last few months, I have heard Echosmith’s song “Cool Kids” on the radio
and have liked it but had not given it much thought (besides I liked it a lot
more than Pitbull or Jason Derulo). But recently, two days ago exactly, I
stumbled upon their YouTube channel and I have to say, I am blown away.
First, these are some talented kids. They are all under the
age of 22 and they are super talented and already have a sound that is unique
to them. Their music has a maturity that many musicians in their 30s and 40s struggle
to attain. I also like their music because it reminds me of the music I loved
in the late 80s; it is funny how music, like fashion or any type of art, is
cyclical.
Second, these are some cool kids. They seem to be very real
in their videos; they never seem to be burned by fashion or glamor. Since they
are all so young they could easily be obsessed by fashion and the pressures of pop-culture
but they seem to be very strong or are getting some good guidance.
Third, these kids have been working hard. In going through
their videos on YouTube they have videos that are four-years old; they have
been working on their sound, crafting their personas, and practicing. Like my
favorite YouTube singer/songwriter Daniela Andrade they have been learning
their art by covering songs from the best artists out there.
The song I am highlighting is “Gamma Ray.” I like this song
because it showcases their sound and it sounds like two of my favorite artists
from 20-years ago; the Smiths and early REM. Three other Echosmith songs that I
particularly like, besides “Cool Kids” are
“Everybody’s
Got Somebody But Me”, “Two
Way Street” (no one covers Kimbra), and their excellent holiday song, “I
Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
