I have a real treat for you today, gifted by the artist who dubs himself as just an ‘Australian kid that makes music.’ Allow me to introduce you to Elias Lanyon, a small-town farmer based in Boort, Victoria, whose talent, eclecticism, and emotion-enriched style make him so much more than a kid who makes music. When you hear his latest single, ‘Watch Me Fall,’ an addictively upbeat yet heart-burdening tale of toxic love, I have no doubts that you’ll agree with me.
Sporting an intriguing blend of country and pop elements, ‘Watch Me Fall’ is not only a blend of beautifully evocative genres but also a fusion of virtuosity. Producer James Seymour and winner of the 13th season of The Voice Australia, Reuben De Melo, have contributed marvellously to the polish of Lanyon’s track; I meant it when I said I had a real treat for you! Let’s get into it!
Watch Me Fall
‘Watch Me Fall’ starts out balanced and buoyant: spry, quick-fire drumbeats seamlessly tumble into the resonant grazes that the guitar leaves atop the intro’s twinkling atmosphere. Despite the animated tempo and the upbeat instrumental harmony that lures you into the track, there is an audible degree of control and tenderness that tells you what you need to know about its heartbeat; it’s not blissful, it’s bruised.
When you first hear Lanyon’s vocals, you’ll notice how the instrumental tapestry behind it stills a little, embracing a stripped-down softness to make room for his vulnerable yet uniquely smooth timbre. That said, don’t mistake this slight, temporary dip in vivacity for a loss of colour; Lanyon’s singing prowess flaunts an enchanting blend of tones that I can only describe as the meeting of the divine and the down-to-earth. What I mean by this is that his voice is one of rare beauty, enwrapped with an authenticity that is universally relatable and human through and through.
Lanyon’s heart-rending delivery and the instrumentation that flows alongside it meld together perfectly in a song like this. When you’ve got lyrics like ‘And you always / Say you always / Restrict the way I breathe / And you kick me while I’m down / Just to see me frown,’ you need to feel every note, every word, and trust me, you won’t have any issues on that front. You can hear moments of desperation, heartache, and even emotional exhaustion in these lyrics because, for Elias Lanyon, every word is both a lifeline and poignantly lived in.
Then suddenly, in a soaring surge of eruptive passion, you’re impelled into the chorus, a nook in which Lanyon’s vocals and the instrumentals continually raise each other up in a breathless swell of liveliness. This is only a short-lived snippet of what’s to come, however, acting almost like the harbinger of the freedom that is on the horizon for Lanyon.
I’ve got to say that the run-up to this moment is extraordinary; the texture of the melody becomes all about short, punchy instrumental pulses and stunted vocal flows, effortlessly capturing how difficult it feels to begin shedding that toxic love from your heart. This part of the song builds up so much anticipation that you feel like you’re hanging on every note, even rooting for Lanyon to shatter this long-held tension with an impassioned break-free moment.
And then it drops. The drums shoot and spark with newfound energy, the guitar snarls as if using the aftermath of an explosion to deliver every note, and Lanyon’s voice wings above it all under the steam of his own backing vocals. Soundscape transformed, the track becomes volcanic with raw spirit; we’re listening to someone finding the strength to pick up the pieces.
As this display of vigour and verve is brought to a simmer, Lanyon’s vocal performance eases into a softening close. Meanwhile, the instrumentals falter, allowing only a gentle guitar riff to accompany Lanyon as he leads you into a heavy silence…
All I can say is that if this song doesn’t convince you to look out for Lanyon’s future projects, I honestly don’t know what song could.
ALT: Australian vocalist Elias Lanyon stands on the stage of The Voice Australia while holding a microphone.
Elias Lanyon
As you can tell from the gripping lyrics and captivating melody of ‘Watch Me Fall,’ Elias Lanyon is no rookie in the musical world. His youth was brightened by his passion for musical expression, having unearthed a deep love for singing and experimenting with a variety of instruments.
Finding music to be the perfect conduit for his emotions, Lanyon knew that sharing his music was just as important as penning it. From the age of 15, he has built a reputation as an engrossing performer, garnering new fans from the crowds that attended his gigs. As time has gone on, he has made it clear that he is also a solid addition to any festival, having wowed the masses at the Lake Meran, River Daze, and Wide Open Spaces Festivals.
And, of course, we can’t talk about Lanyon’s awe-inspiring musical journey without mentioning his appearance on the 13th season of The Voice Australia. His gorgeous performance of David Kushner’s ‘Daylight’ had Kate Miller-Heidke, LeAnn Rimes, and Guy Sebastian all vying for him to occupy a spot on their teams.
In the end, he became a part of Team Kate, and under her mentorship, he sailed through to the Knockout Rounds. During his time on The Voice Australia, he graced viewers with incredibly moving renditions of Sting’s ‘Fields of Gold’ and Matt Corby’s ‘Brother.’
The question is, what’s next for this amazingly gifted kid who makes music? Well, Elias Lanyon is determined to deliver more soulful gems, striving to release a new single every two months this year. With ‘Watch Me Fall’ and ‘Fix This,’ which dropped in February, Lanyon is well on his way towards accomplishing his goal.
‘Watch Me Fall’ is available to listen to across all major streaming platforms!
Till next time.