Some songs have a way of pulling you in without any warning, and Graceland does exactly that, and William Kalmer and Audrey Karrasch have created something that does not shout for your attention but somehow ends up being the only thing in the room worth listening to.
Audrey Karrasch is a real talent. Her voice has this natural, unforced quality that makes you believe every single word she sings. The Voice USA may have introduced her to the world, but a performance like this is what keeps people around. Edward George King’s production is a quiet highlight of the whole record. Built around a felt-piano arrangement, the track has this intimate, close-up quality that suits the song perfectly. King has scored films for years, and that storytelling instinct comes through here in a big way. Every note serves the song and nothing feels like it was added just to fill space.
Kalmer’s writing is personal without being self-indulgent. He leaves enough room in the lyrics for the listener to step in and find their own meaning, which is not something every songwriter knows how to do. It takes confidence to keep things simple, and that confidence pays off here.
Do yourself a favor and follow William Kalmer and Audrey Karrasch across their social media pages, because if this song is any indication of where they are heading, you will not want to miss what comes next.
