At a time when AI generated tracks are flooding playlists and polish often replaces personality, Hooyoosay feels like a reminder of what real musicianship sounds like. There is nothing synthetic about this performance. It is raw, lived in, and deeply human.
Opening their Silently Crying EP, the country blues rendition of John Mayall’s “Sitting in the Rain” pulls you in right away. As the first track, it sets the tone for what follows, grounding the project in warmth and authenticity. The harmonica acts as an instant hook, soulful without feeling showy. It carries an earthy glow that anchors the song, while bright, catchy guitar riffs give it lift and movement. Vocally, the delivery is soft spoken and unforced, which makes the performance feel even more intimate. Instead of overpowering the track, the voice settles gently into the arrangement. It feels conversational and close, like you are sitting a few feet away as the song unfolds.
Listening to Hooyoosay does not feel like streaming another track in the background. It feels like being invited into a room where musicians are playing together for the love of it. There is an ease to it, a sense of community and shared emotion that defines the entire EP from the very first note. That kind of authenticity cannot be programmed, and that is exactly what makes this opening track resonate.
Hooyoosay is a collective of anonymous collaborators who write, record, and release music together. They choose to keep their identities private, but there is nothing guarded about their subject matter. Their songs are unafraid to engage with real world issues, and that tension between anonymity and bold expression makes their work even more compelling. The next track shifts slightly into indie rock territory while still holding onto a classic rock and roll backbone. “Hands Off” feels sonically rooted in the 1960s, with driving guitars and a hook that lingers, yet its message is unmistakably urgent and contemporary. The song confronts the realities highlighted by the Me Too Movement with clarity and conviction.
When the vocalist declares, “My body won’t be misused,” it lands as a direct statement of autonomy. The chorus repeats, “Hands off my body,” transforming the refrain into something communal rather than personal. It is not just one voice speaking. It feels like many. “Hands Off” works because it does not preach. It insists. It draws a clear line and refuses to blur it. In doing so, Hooyoosay delivers more than a retro inspired rock track. They offer a rallying cry and an empowerment anthem that aligns itself with women’s rights and bodily autonomy without hesitation.
The energy kicks up immediately with roaring harmonicas, distorted guitars racing across the fretboard, and unapologetic rock and roll vocals. “Who’s Driving Your Plane” is a cover of an early The Rolling Stones deep cut, one that has never quite reached the streaming heights of the band’s more iconic releases. For many listeners, it may even feel like a discovery.
It was certainly mine. After hearing Hooyoosay’s take, I had to revisit the original. Both versions share the same blues soaked backbone, built on driving piano, gritty harmonica lines, and loose, swaggering guitar riffs. The spirit is intact in both recordings. That sense of reckless momentum and attitude remains front and center.
What Hooyoosay brings is clarity. Their production feels cleaner and more defined, allowing each instrument to cut through without losing the raw edge that makes the song work. Rather than polishing away the grit, they sharpen it. The result is a version that honors the original while confidently carving out its own identity.
For those curious, here is the original version of this song:
“Happy World” may be the most culturally urgent track on the record. It does not hide behind metaphor or nostalgia. Instead, it looks directly at the chaos and contradictions shaping life in the United States and across the globe. The song reflects a world marked by political division, state power, war, environmental collapse, and the relentless churn of consumer culture. Hooyoosay captures that unrest in the pointed lyric, “This is not a happy world because this is such a careless world.” It is a simple line, but it lands heavily. There is frustration in it, but also clarity.
Lyrically, the track calls out unchecked consumption, late stage capitalism, and the accelerating damage of global warming. Rather than isolating one issue, the song paints a broader picture of systems that feel out of balance. The arrangement mirrors that weight. It carries a solemn tone, giving space for the message to resonate. “Happy World” is not just a lament. It is a challenge. Beneath the sadness is a demand for accountability and change. Hooyoosay channels disillusionment into something purposeful, turning reflection into a quiet but unmistakable call to action.
Closing out the EP, “Jenny” leans fully into the spirit of early rock and roll. There is a looseness to it, a swing that feels effortless. The lyrics are simple and instantly memorable, the kind you find yourself singing along to before the song is even over. The melodies stay with you, looping back in your head long after the final note fades. A cover of a song by John Mayall, “Jenny” centers on the ache of lost love. It does not overcomplicate the emotion. Instead, it allows the repetition and phrasing to carry the weight of that grief. The harmonica weaves through the track, adding a rich blues warmth that deepens the sense of longing. What truly stands out is the rhythmic vocal delivery. There is a bounce and phrasing to it that feels rooted in classic rock tradition, yet it never sounds dated. As the final track, “Jenny” brings the EP to a close with heart, grit, and a reverence for blues history that feels both studied and sincere.
Check out the EP on Spotify now:
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Written by Ryan Cassata
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Rock the Pigeon is an independent music and culture blog dedicated to uplifting emerging artists, spotlighting underrepresented voices, and sharing fresh sounds across genres. Since 2012, we’ve been celebrating creativity, authenticity, and the stories behind the songs.
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