Tommy Atkins is back with his first EP following up the
success of his two single releases Cinderella’s Had A Drink and his country
Cover of Freedom. Both of these are
included on the EP along with new tracks Wild in the Wind and the title track Kiss
Me Cowboy
Kiss Me Cowboy is
not just another cowboy love song –this time it’s about LGBT acceptance, but
also just about acceptance generally. Opening
with acoustic guitar and violin, with drums giving us the rhythm, the strings
really add to the mood of the song, providing almost a second vocal.
The song contains strong
emotion without being overly emotional, contains a message without preaching.
As before, despite being
from the North East UK, Tommy has written about classic Country themes – the
setting of a country fair, reference to a truck - the imagery is all there and
it is easy to picture the scenes as they play out through the song almost as
though watching it on a screen. It’s a
story of a relationship that meets with disapproval, two people fighting against
parents and – in this case – against prejudice.
Finding those moments, away from everyone where you feel safe to ask “Kiss
me, cowboy”. Tommy voice is quieter than normal, a hush effect that helps
explain the situation.
Although the ending isn’t
quite fairy tale, the story isn’t quite finished and there is certainly hope in
there – hope that their love will survive distance and hope for acceptance.
Tommy has won awards and
nominations not just for his music but for being a positive role model in the
LGBT community, and surely, he will continue to be recognised in both
fields. Tommy’s first single –
Cinderella’s Had a Drink – was nominated for our own Silverball Country Awards
and lost out only due to very tough competition
The second new track - Wild
In The Wind – is a very listenable relaxing track, showcasing Tommy’s voice
against a varied instrumental, with drums, guitar, strings, pedal steel, and
dobro. In a way it’s another love song,
but a tribute to a lost friend, quite wistful with the emotion again supported
by the violin and very subtle backing vocals from Anna Pearson.
It’s a song about wanting to
go back and experience all those firsts again with your friend, looking on the
brighter side of life. The friend in every memory, forever 17 in the shot gun
seat and wild in the wind. The friend you miss and would give anything to see
again.
It’s a perfect ending to
this 4 track EP
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