With a strong beat, grooving bass and rhythmic flourishes, ‘Stirrin’ in the City’ is a genuinely stirring anthem. This is the first single from Ewan MacFarlane’s debut album, which is expected in October. On this showing, the new solo material from the former frontman of Apollo 440 and Grim Northern Social will be forceful stuff. ‘Stirrin’ in the City’ was written just after lockdown restrictions were released in Glasgow and a celebratory sense of freedom elevates the song. MacFarlane explains: “You could see the joy, relief and excitement in people’s faces at finally being allowed out again. And even though the weather changed from beautiful spring sunshine to snow in the blink of an eye, no one cared!”
“The words ‘what a day’ kept looping in my mind as we walked, and then I knew I had it,” explains MacFarlane. The sing-along chorus and tuneful verses benefit from MacFarlane’s excellent rocking vocal, delivered with a smile and feeling of abandon, reflecting lyrics that focus on love, liberty and living to the full: “We can all love anyone // God won’t judge you.”
Look out for the new album, ‘Always Everlong’, this autumn. It’s the result of an incredible goal MacFarlane set himself during the lockdown: to write and upload to YouTube a new song everyday. That the songs and songcraft can be of such quality is truly an achievement. Tap your feet and sing along: “What a day, what a day bring on tomorrow.”
