Ohio singer-songwriter Matt Palka’s new single, My Ramblin’ Rose, is a beautifully crafted reflection on times past and fleeting relationships, universal ideas we can all relate to. With sweet finger-picking and his clear, tuneful vocal that climbs high in the chorus, Palka draws us into his story. As the song develops, layers of sweeping strings and insistent percussion are subtly added, creating musical depth.
Palka shares the inspiration behind the song: “I was three weeks into my solo cross-country bicycle trip when I decided to take a day off from biking in Grand Lake, Colorado. I had just ridden over the highest highway in America and nearly died by riding off the peak. When checking into the Grand Lake youth hostel, I met an earthy, soulful girl who was driving from the East Coast and taking a break from her boyfriend. We spent a couple of days together, exploring the area, and I saw the Milky Way for the first time with her while sprawled out at midnight along the lake. I knew that our time was fleeting, but I was happy for the gift of connection and even considered ending my bike trip right there to spend whatever days we could together. This song is about that time.”
Shot in a hot air balloon and on a motorcycle around Palm Springs, the video takes us on Palka’s journey through expansive vistas and mountain streams: breathtaking locations. We join him on the long roads and by the crackling campfire, where his reminiscing is accompanied by picked guitar and open-hearted lyrics.
Palka is releasing an audiobook and accompanying album, both called Moment In The Sun. Celebrating youth, adventure and friendship, the audiobook and album were inspired by Palka’s solo cross-country cycling adventure in his 20s when he bought a second-hand bicycle and rode from Ohio to California, traversing the highest highway in the USA, running out of water in the desert and going head-to-head with a bull at dawn. He set out with a guitar strapped across the handlebars, so he could busk when his money ran out. It’s an authentic adventure, and the resulting songs are real and spirited. Enjoy.
