From Atlanta, Georgia, high school student Katie Belle Akin doubles as a country music singer-songwriter. This is the first taste of new music from Akin since her debut EP, Next Thing in Tennessee, was released last year. With this new track, she's moved past the country pop songs with heavy Disney-pop influence, and moved on to songs like this. If she continues this, she could have quite a solid chance of becoming popular on the charts and country radio, possibly pop radio as well..
Not often are single releases as classic as this one. Akin tells the story of a young love, and despite the slight cliche element of that, her sweet vocals make up for it. Reminiscent of Jewel's brief flirtation with county music, this song is a teenage version of her track "Thump Thump" and details a perfect (but PG) night with her first love. Vocally, this is Akin's best performance yet, for she really lets the emotion and rawness shine through, and her vocals aren't over-processed.
Despite the fact that this song is very country, there are slight longings for pop music throughout the track. Especially in the vocal echoes and beat addition in the second verse, Akin adds a pop twist to the otherwise completely traditional track. Many young musicians are attracted to the glitz and glamour of pop music, and that teenage side of Akin shines though here. It is as if someone took a Katy Perry background vocal and put it to country instrumentals. This somewhat strange paradox between the country production and pop vocals and undertones somehow works, and creates a perfect teen-country track.
Overall rating: 4 crowns
Despite the fact that this song is very country, there are slight longings for pop music throughout the track. Especially in the vocal echoes and beat addition in the second verse, Akin adds a pop twist to the otherwise completely traditional track. Many young musicians are attracted to the glitz and glamour of pop music, and that teenage side of Akin shines though here. It is as if someone took a Katy Perry background vocal and put it to country instrumentals. This somewhat strange paradox between the country production and pop vocals and undertones somehow works, and creates a perfect teen-country track.
Overall rating: 4 crowns
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