The latest single from Scottish singer Alex McEwan is another example of his gifted songwriting. ‘Rodeo Star’ is sensitively written narrative about a character who dreamed of becoming a rodeo star but those aspirations have been unfulfilled. Its themes are relatable for anyone who has had ambitions of achieving something more. McEwan explains: “After coming back to the UK from Nashville, it all seemed like a different world, but hanging out with the folks in Nashville I realised we have all got dreams. The great thing about Nashville is that it’s a place where dreamers like myself are welcomed.” Of course, McEwan himself is a story of aspiration, hope and knowing that you should never stop dreaming. Back in 2005, he seemed destined for musical stardom when his debut album, ‘Beautiful Lies’ was released to great acclaim, leading to touring with Katie Melua and heavy BBC Radio 2 airplay of his single ‘Make a Wave’. But the universe had other plans and life took a different turn. A degree, a career in finance and new love combined to make him step back from the music business. It wasn’t until an impromptu open-mic night on a cruise ship in 2019 that McEwan returned to his passion.The quality of his music has certainly not suffered from the break and his comeback shows that you should never lose those aspirations and dreams.
‘Rodeo Star’ is most notable for McEwan’s smoothly, soulful voice and confident vocal delivery alongside truly gorgeous pedal steel that’s like another weary voice in the mix. The single is from McEwan’s forthcoming album ‘In a World We Don’t Know’, which we can look forward to hearing on 28th September 2023. It follows up ‘Hold Your Hand Out To Me’ and the title track, both well-received previous singles from the new record. All three singles set high expectations for McEwan’s new material and the album will definitely be one to watch out for. Enjoy.
