Here is a song for the insomniacs amongst us. Gravity, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, singer-songwriter Andy Hanson, is themed around those restless nights when inner turmoil and emotional conflict weigh heavily on our minds, chasing sleep away. Hanson’s words are direct and reflect his introspective stream of thoughts as he is mentally pulled in different directions and dragged down by his burdens: “I can’t fall asleep with these blood-shot eyes // I can’t tell you why I cry // So open up my heart and go for a swim // And take it all in // The weight of the world runs deep in my bones.” The strength of his feeling is evident in references to the cosmic forces that pull and push him, “Towards infinity.” Hanson sings of finding a way to bend rather than break and of giving his all, infusing the song with a hope and resilience. Vulnerability meets determination in a confluence of feeling that he carefully pulls together in song.
Hanson’s powerful lyrics are delivered in fluent melodic currents, his voice rising and falling over a rhythmic strum on his acoustic guitar. Subtle depths are added by Jerod Kaszynski’s bass and steel, and electric guitar from Matthew R. Sayles.
Hanson explores painful memories and difficult subjects through his songs, taking the personal and making it universal. There’s real feeling and personal truth in his lyrics, which tackle the challenges and complexities of life. This is the first single since Hanson’s well-crafted debut Roots, an album that drew on the metaphor of tree roots. Whatever is poured onto the roots – water or poison – affects the tree’s growth; this image is related to the human experience and the idea that what we encounter in life shapes who we become. It’s thought-provoking songwriting, full of poetic intent. Watch the video for Gravity, then check out the album.
