It’s not often that you get acoustic acts infiltrating the rock scene, but Braden Barrie, otherwise known as the one-man acoustic act SayWeCanFly is determined to beat all the odds. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Barrie has wowed crowds at the Vans Warped Tour and is now set to head over to Europe to give us on the other side of the pond a dose of his sweet melodies and intricate lyrics from his brand new EP, Darling.
The five track EP may seem bitesize, but SayWeCanFly certainly has all the bases covered with his material. The title track fronts the EP, showcasing Barrie’s impressive vocals, and the lyrics are well-written and relatable — what’s brilliant is that a listener can focus on them entirely without the distraction of heavy guitars and basslines. The layering of the song is intelligent; multiple acoustic guitar tracks on top of each other pad it out, making it far more energetic and captivating.
‘High School‘ slows things down entirely, which contrasts against the biting nature of the lyrics which go against the expected theme of romance to tell the tale of something far more significant. ‘Better Off Alone‘ returns back to heartbreak, which fans can resonate with in any case, and sees SayWeCanFly delivering a truly wonderful vocal performance.
‘When I Come Home‘ is the MVP when it comes to tugging on your heartstrings, as there is very little to the melody at first but a certain power behind Barrie’s range and words that may in fact bring a tear to the eyes of listeners. The chorus provides a more fleshy instrumental, but overall it’s a very easy going song fit for any setting.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Driftwood Heart‘, another tender-hearted gem, and its proven that while this isn’t the kind of material that would be opening moshpits or soundtracking the biggest party of the year, it’s a solid EP that fans will no doubt hold close to their hearts. While SayWeCanFly is a solely acoustic project, there’s no denying that elements of other genres have weaved their way in here — prime example being the hearty dose of pop punk that can be heard throughout, giving bands such as State Champs and Brigades who have released acoustic efforts a run for their money.
SayWeCanFly has been performing under the moniker since 2009 and has released a ton of material within that time, but Darling has stationed itself as his best record yet as its a true indication of the way Barrie’s sound and talent has matured over the years. Fans of all sorts of genres will no doubt love it — so step aside, Jamie Lawson!
