Euan Blackman’s New Track Is An Anthem For When ‘Everybody Lets You Down’
Euan Blackman is a rising Indie Folk-pop artist and singer-songwriter based in Liverpool. The last few years have seen him forming an impressive catalogue of original music, and building a loyal audience of listeners (in part through his large TikTok following, where he regularly posts original music and covers).
Drawing inspiration from artists including Phoebe Bridgers, Bruce Springsteen and Claude Debussy, Euan creates introspective, acoustically driven songs which tell “tales of the human condition in soft focus”. His work has drawn previous comparisons to Elliot Smith, as well as praise from major music industry names (Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Mike Shinoda, Jack Saunders) and support including from BBC Introducing and Radio X.
Released on January 27, Everybody Lets You Down is Euan’s first new music of 2023, and marks the first single of his upcoming debut EP You Are the Rain. Written, recorded, produced and mixed in Euan’s bedroom – and mastered by Jim Spencer (Johnny Marr, New Order, The Charlatans) at Eve Studios – the track manages to achieve studio-level quality whilst still maintaining an intimate, lo-fi feel amongst a spacey, dream-like atmosphere similar to the likes of Boygenius.
The track opens to soft, muted guitar strumming, which draws us in to a mellow intro section, cloaked in a sea of background chatter and subtle synth pads. With an airy, breathy tone reminiscent of Matty Healy, Euan’s vocals begin to unveil the song’s story: “For fifteen years, I’ve waited here for someone to throw me a chance” / “I’ve made my presence known, and waited by the phone, but never got a second glance”. In detailing the track, Euan explains that the lyrics describe “feeling ignored by the music industry, and waiting for that email or phone to ring.”
The pace builds with pulsing arpeggiator synth bass, layers of strummed electric guitar and smooth The 1975-esque riffs. The bridge brings the track to an emotional peak melodically, before collapsing into a haze of reverb-drenched guitar and soft, floaty background vocals: “And I know the best is yet to come.” In his own words, Euan explains that the track is about “accepting the fact that in some point in your life, you’re gonna be let down, and things will go wrong”. “It’s just a fact you have to face up to.” Despite the struggles that come with being independent within the industry, Euan emphasises that it is “a real privilege being an entirely DIY artist”, expressing his excitement to “see the journey” that he will be taken on with the release of his debut EP.
The track doesn’t cut itself too short by any means, but I was left still wanting more after the three-and-a-half-minute runtime, like a dream you’re gutted to wake up from. Everybody Lets You Down is a cinematic and wistful tune, and another great release from Euan Blackman. Perfect for those moments where the music makes you feel like you’re in the epic finale montage scene of a coming-of-age film (who doesn’t have them every now and again?)
Stream Euan Blackman’s latest single and discography here and keep an eye on his socials for announcements and new music, as he gears up for the release of his You Are the Rain EP!
Jude Bankier
