The project and group is now in Toledo, but this is more than simply that: this is a collective where the perfect harmonizing of each of the waves in creativity works towards the realization of Jonathan Rodebaugh’s musical ideas. A record player was given to Jonathan at the age of four, igniting an interest in music spurred by the vinyls of his parents. The first ones to carve his proclivities in music-putting up Prince’s “Delirious,” Huey Lewis and the News’s “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” down to the entirely different range of sounds he goes through-invoked over the years. Jonathan started upright bass at the age of eight and started writing songs that later turned into bands like 13B, Safety In Numbers, The Boos, The Sanderlings, and The Foxtail Method.
Midwest Royal is a bit different because of its more experimental approach to music-it defines most forms of music in particular not at all like the standard definitions. In Jonathan’s view, for a song to be alive in its truest sense, it has to determine itself by what it’s going to be, not by which label it fits into. That belief is intricately tied to the varied, multi-faceted repertoire of Midwest Royal, where every single song is treated as an entity, ready to go wherever it wants in the chosen musical genre. Jonathan’s collaborative spirit is at the heart of Midwest Royal, as he will team up with pedals of able-bodied musicians, producers, and engineers to get the very best out of his songs. Then every song will contain the evidence of the power of togetherness while highlighting what each artist involved brings to the project.
Midwest Royal: Bourbon: This is the latest release of the biography of the newest record from Midwest Royal entitled Bourbon, coming up soon on the date of September 3, 2024, and certainly is another bright article in the ever-changing merchandise of the group. Hence, Jon Rodebaugh, along with some of his closest friends, undertook a journey to the core minimum area of outlaw country, a sound always lent to the rebellious and dissidents. In doing so, Bourbon not only pays tribute to the legendary pasts but also creates its own individual space in today’s musical landscape by combining traditional elements with a contemporary touch into a song that sounds timeless and utterly relevant, as only music can encapsulate all the intricacies of human life.
“Bourbon” is an instant entry into the minds of listeners where they start drawing up spaces for sound as soon as the first note sounds, both new and familiar. The opening has quite a laid-back groove, drawing to mind dusty country roads and dimly lit bars one might associate with country music. The instrumentals are very carefully done such that every part contributes to a deep and dimensional quality that sounds completely organic and effortless. One of the hallmarks of Midwest Royal’s style is the seamless inclusion of instruments, further emphasized by the collaborative aspect of their music-making in order to create music that is bigger and better. The drums anchor by playing a steady, slow tempo, while the guitars interlace filling the sound with added richness and complexity.
To voice, “Bourbon” has a powerful and a very defiant and self-reflecting attitude within the song. Its sound has been rendered not loud but lower, deep, and much more resonant in keeping pace with the filmic story under discussion. There is no begging or assuring in this voice, rather, it’s just a calm but powerful affirmation of hard-learned truths. While the music and voice come together, the song almost takes on a meditative tone, prompting one to introspect over what the lyrics really meant. Delivered at a leisurely pace, each line settles well before moving to the next. Very much in this song, the tempo carries its significance so that the audience will understand and thus feel what should go with the message.
Above all, “Bourbon” is equivalent to narrative dimension, vividness, and powerful diction, painting the beautiful, yet destitute world. “Excited straight into the mutiny of morning and found a bit of hiding at the end of the bar” summarizes the jarring initial idea, which alludes to how disappointment reverberates throughout the song and the need to hide somewhere while a sort of riot is out there. The components of the text have both individual and political matters to make them specific and universal; this dual focus is one of the song’s main points of strength, as it makes it accessible to a range of listeners in different ways.
This song incorporates another of its very magical essences into its musical arrangement. The contribution of every single instrument benefits the general mood that the song gives. The soulful rich tones infused with the warm embracing sounds of soulful space by the Hammond B3 organ of Scott Guberman surround the vocals like a comfort hug for its lighting. Ben Helson’s expressive and accurate lead on the guitar creates a wonderful urgency within the tune and contrasts beautifully with the relaxed rhythm section. Pedal steel guitar by Bryan Daste makes a great add-on of sadness to the event, as with those wailing sounds, the song is talking about grieving and yearning. All of them composed a very complicated and deeply emotional sound.
Backing vocals in ‘Bourbon’ are distinctive, adding intricacy and fullness to the song, bringing on along with it Nanya Ijeh, Samuel Osaroekiye, and Ralph Okoro, whose harmonization can literally take the song to higher levels and infuse it with a very strong and moving soulful energy. These background vocals are not simply thrown onto the cut at the last minute because they were actually incorporated directly into its arrangement, it may even directly lend to overall performance of the lead vocals. This creates a dynamics between the main and supporting vocals that is engaging and filled with emotion, inviting the audience to partake in the story of the song.
Apart from that, Midwest Royal is really adept at doing “Bourbon.” The composition itself is a master-piece, with each-and-every ingredient melting with another into one full set. The blend is crisp-clear: the individual instruments and parts of vocals can be separated, but adding power together makes the music powerful as a whole. From positioning in the mix of instruments to subtle application of reverbs and other effects, the detail-oriented, meticulous attention to every bit can be felt from one end to the other of track. The end product is a polished and professional sound that keeps the raw emotional essence of the tune.
As the song goes on, it becomes clear that “Bourbon” really isn’t a mere song; it’s a statement. Lyrically and through both the instrumentation and the vocal delivery, this is the feeling of an anthem against disillusionment and searching for meaning in an almost crumbling world. In fact, it has an upbeat promise, that in the darkest of dark times there is still something worth fighting for. That is precisely what creates the great aura about “Bourbon”; that duality makes it so interesting and so touching, and will stick to a person’s mind long after the music has ended.
All in all, “Bourbon,” from Midwest Royal, is some of the most impressive songwriting and performance-in-action productions in it’s own right. It embodies very spirit in what outlaw country is and is of the cleverest types to innovate and stretch the genre itself. The song has a layered sound with a moving story and emotional vocals, marking it out as something a little different while, in some ways, appealing to rich contemporary sounds of country music. Midwest Royal has shown again that they have the pedigree to create powerful but intellectually stimulating songs. It goes beyond just listening to music-an experience that serves the purpose of introspection, feeling, or connection at deeper levels.
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