A twangy, heartrending success, “Since I Left You” represents the first single in five years from Toronto-based singer-songwriter Julian Peterson. Taking inspiration from a breakup experience and ensuing love story, the track infuses these alluring sentiments with Peterson’s knack for traditional recording techniques — here embracing off-the-floor recordings, vintage microphones, and no-frills arsenal of guitars, piano, rhythms, and a very talented cast of musicians — including childhood friend Gabriel Davis on production and Milan Sakardi on mixing. Also on the track are Michael Eckert (pedal steel), Jeremiah Pick (electric guitar), Casey Pick (bass), Julian Psihogios (drums), and Maggie Keogh (backing vocals).
With much of its recording taking place live off the floor at Dreamhouse Studios in Toronto, “Since I Left You” drives with sincerity and spontaneity throughout. Keogh’s dreamy backing vocals add wonderfully to Peterson’s introspection, recounting the process of rebuilding oneself following a breakup. Peterson ended up marrying the woman who inspired the song, so it’s also a reminder that relationships can have natural ebbs and flows — and a breakup can eventually lead to another love story in the future, either with that same person or another.
“When I saw you again, I looked back on all the things that I’ve done,” Peterson’s vocals open amidst solemn acoustic strums, showcasing a sense of reflection and “since I left you, all my days are broken” melancholy. The gradual additions of instrumentation — especially Eckert’s affecting pedal steel alongside illuminated piano work — pair with further desires to connect, eventually culminating in a spirited “now you’re somebody else” acknowledgement of changing times and persons. “You don’t need me, I can tell, I’m a moment too late and you’re with somebody now,” Peterson’s vocals continue, reckoning with the reality though gradually moving on in doing so. “Since I Left You” is an affecting, melodic success from Julian Peterson.
—
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
