Liverpool singer-songwriter John Witherspoon has released what he describes as his most emotionally complex “exploration of human connection” in new track My Baby. A consistent presence in the Merseyside music scene, Witherspoon has built a devoted following through regular performances at venues including The Cavern and The Jacaranda.
Released on September 19th, My Baby is the final preview and closing track of his upcoming album One of Them, due to be released October 31st.
The track opens with Witherspoon’s emotive vocals laid bare against a soft piano mirroring the lead melody. The personal lyrics create an intimacy that draws the listener in from the jump: “You don’t call, you don’t write / You know, I had a bad dream we were falling out“. The live band arrangement brings a warmth and richness to the production, and reaches a crescendo during the bridge, where the descending chord progression lands us into the final chorus with a punch.
My Baby has a swooning, nostalgic quality, similar to a contemporary track like The Lemon Twigs’ I Wanna Prove to You. Witherspoon makes reference to Arctic Monkeys’ recent work, as well as influences spanning from Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to The Beatles, Radiohead, and The Strokes.
Although on the surface the lyrical themes gesture towards a romantic relationship, Witherspoon explains that the song was born following a period of writer’s block, referencing this within the lyrics: “Did the dreaded verse one where the writer is blocked”.
The song’s emotional core was inspired by a moving story about a mother and son’s reconciliation, combined with his own experiences of familial relationships and the “often senselessness of estrangement”, Witherspoon explains. “We all have people we wish we were still tight with, but I feel as if you almost don’t get to decide who you’re closest to, in terms of regular dialogue”. The song’s ambiguity is deliberate, allowing for multiple interpretations: “For some listeners I hope it’s about a lover, for others I hope it’s about a friend, for others I hope it’s about family. For me it’s about all of them.”
My Baby showcases Witherspoon’s fantastic ear for melody, and the lush instrumentation packs a punch. As the closing track and final statement of his new album, it is certainly very promising ahead of the full release, which he describes as a “bold creative leap“. We’ll be tuned in once One of Them comes out on October 31st.
Stream My Baby now.
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