Inés Hall – “Next To Me”
Inés Hall – “Next To Me” – Single Review
Hmmmmmmmmm…what do I think about “Next To Me” when it comes right down to it?
Honestly, this feels like another no notes situation.
Having said that, don’t go thinkin’ it’s all so simple. I like Inés Hall…she seems like she’s a good time, and for what it’s worth, I feel like she’s really given us a flawless performance on “Next To Me.” In addition to that, I’d probably tell you that it’s gonna be one of the easiest songs to like in the scene right now. Not a bad start, right? This is my first time listening to her music, and only the fourth single that I see she’s got posted up in the world according to Spotify. So don’t get it twisted y’all…pumping out a verifiably flawless tune in any capacity so early on into a career, is undoubtedly an achievement. “Next To Me” is catchy, it’s well-designed, and it’s executed with the kind of mix of style & swagger it needs to be convincing. All indications point towards Inés not only belonging in this crazy music scene we share, but that she’s likely heading for longevity, based on the way she’s built “Next To Me” in such a genuinely bulletproof way. Believe me, you don’t have to be releasing a ton of music in this world to make an impact – especially if what you do release has the kind of focused attention to detail that this single has.
From start to finish, Inés has plugged herself in, locked into the moment, and executed with the confidence of a seasoned professional. I’ve seen her compared to stuff like Phoebe Bridgers and whatnot in writing…and that makes enough sense to me…Lucy Dacus…Boygenius…Julien Baker and such…sure…she’d fit right in with that crowd, no problemo. What you’ll hear in “Next To Me” is a bit more upbeat than you typically find any of those comparisons to be with their brilliantly moody material, but Inés has woven in a decent amount of contrast into this track through its lyricism overall. It should be enough to prove there’s more depth to what you’ll hear on “Next To Me” for those that could potentially be critical of it. Don’t get me wrong…there’s a LOT of me that hears this song as the kind of track that proves you can walk before you start to run…and I’d be the last person to tell you that Inés is recreating the wheel here – because she’s not. That doesn’t make “Next To Me” a bad song whatsoever, and that’s not at all what I’m saying, clearly – but I would be among the first to point out that from start to finish, a song like this is built on everything that’s tried, tested, and true. It’s a no notes situation, because everything to be found here is a version of something you’ve heard before in some capacity. Whether it’s the riff-heavy catchiness in the music, the simplicity in the design, the smart hooks in the vocals…etc. etc. – Inés is somewhat standing on the shoulders of the giants that have come before her, but again, there’s nothing wrong with doing that, and most artists/bands do in their own ways as well. I listen to “Next To Me” and feel like it’s essentially the formula for a Sheryl Crow tune, filtered through the new-school lens of Boygenius-era. And then obviously we could cite a million different ways that Sheryl was already doing what so many others had done before her as well, which is entirely true. So…yes…I want more identity outta Inés Hall, but in saying that, I also acknowledge that she’s still very much on the early side of her career and there’s tons of time for her to establish that. All I’m saying is that if she wants to ensure that she doesn’t end up drowning in the sea of sameness, she’s gotta realize it’s crucial to make creating her identity in music a pertinent priority as early as possible.
Anyhow. I have the confidence that she’ll go on to do exactly that over time. I don’t want that to be the story here…that’s just me advising an artist with the best advice I can give them, because the skill and passion for the craft is clearly present & accounted for. The facts are, Inés has made “Next To Me” sound even easier that it probably is, because she’s got that much of a natural vibe goin’ on. So make no mistake, she’s got every right and reason to be stoked about what she’s created for this single – she’s just gotta be cautious of not allowing the hooks of the almighty music machine to make her sound like everyone else out there. As it stands, just about every artist out there that you can think of would be STOKED to create a song that’s this well-polished so early on into their career…and it’s tracks like “Next To Me” that confirm with crystal clarity, that Inés Hall has stronger building blocks than most ever do.
She’s got a great voice, she’s got an excellent sense of how to perform, and I think she has this stellar mix of humble vibes that really makes you wanna sing along with her, and cheer for her success. So if it seems like I’m complaining, please go back and read this all over again, but this time do it with your eyes open…Inés Hall has got the right kind of talent to succeed in this industry, and I’m confident that she will. “Next To Me” is built with universal sound we all respond to in the same way – and turn right up.
Find out more about Inés Hall through this multi-link here: https://linktr.ee/ineshall
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