Summery rock-powered soundscapes and nostalgic trips to the wildness and liberty of youth go together like good beers and sunlit beaches. Songs that combine the two never fail to evoke a bright blend of joy and rejuvenation, and it just so happens that I have a song just like that for you today! Meet ONE NATION, a seasoned quartet that has recently dropped their refreshing yet familiar new single, ‘Young, Wild and Free.’
A treasure trove of talent, ONE NATION comprises the incredibly versatile songwriter, bassist, producer, and vocalist Brent Brown, as well as the master of finesse and flair, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Zwilling. Joining the pair, you have the impassioned powerhouse Tracy Arnold, whose skills as a drummer and backing vocalist never fail to burnish the lively heartbeat of every track. Last, but certainly not least, adaptable guitarist Greg Edwin completes this ensemble, embellishing the band with a rockstar charisma that you just can’t teach.
Now that we’re all introduced, it’s the perfect time to dive deep into ‘Young, Wild and Free,’ a track that I know will make a beeline for your summer playlist after you hear it!
Young, Wild and Free
‘Young, Wild and Free’ opens with a blistering comet trail of pick work and deep heartbeat-esque drumbeats. The instrumentals immediately thrust you into a thicket of invitingly vibrant harmonies and two-pronged tempos, masterfully evoking both feelings of mellow nostalgia and reinvigorated spirit.
When Brown’s vocals nestle into the instrumentals, you can really hear the beautifully rich relationship between the two. Where the bright yet relaxed instrumentation effortlessly moulds to Brown’s voice during the first verse, you can hear how his warm, strong timbre notches the smooth instrumental harmonies with an oaky edge. Together, the track’s vocals and instrumentals act as a prism, revealing flurries of both youth and maturity.
Already jamming along with the mellifluous texture of the track, my eyebrows shot up, and I really started to groove when I heard the chorus. If showmanship had a signature sound, it would be the chorus of this song. Turbocharged, the guitars and drums freshen the rhythm of the track like a spate of falling starlight, a sound wonderfully patterned with some divinely delicate backing vocals.
It’s not just the melody of ‘Young, Wild and Free’ that will boost your mood; the lyrics are teeming with carefree cheer that you can’t help but become immersed in. Hear lyrics like ‘Making love to our favourite song / Drinking whiskey all night long,’ and ‘Young and wild and we were free / The night you fell in love with me.’ Doesn’t that just take you back to a time when the only thing you had to worry about was falling in love and having fun?
As the single grows in energy and enthusiasm, you get to witness the extent of the band’s versatility as each member builds upon one another’s firepower, resulting in an incendiary swell of passion and punch. It’s this showcase of talent that paves the way for an epic instrumental break, a break jam-packed with some excellent guitar work. Every note has the zap of untamed lightning, enfolding the following chorus in the vestiges of a sonic inferno!
Of course, true to the tone of the track, ONE NATION carries us, dancing on their melody’s shoulders, toward the gradually fading diminuendo. I love that this single doesn’t end abruptly. The ebbing dynamics imply that the party—the great parts of life—aren’t really over; they’re just evolving.
Overall, ‘Young, Wild and Free’ is a summer storm, one that can’t be contained or forced to end. There’s romance, there’s carefree fun, there’s unapologetic joy – this track has everything you need to smile, dance, and embrace the unstoppable buoyancy of youth.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/onenationrocks/
ALT: Energetic rock ensemble, ONE NATION, poses with serious expressions on their faces.
ONE NATION
Over the past year, ONE NATION has released a cloudburst of vivacious singles, including the intricately romantic ‘One Good Reason,’ and the high-voltage Yuletide jam ‘Winter Wonderland.’
In other words, 2024 was a good year for the quartet, but I have a feeling that 2025 is going to really grease the band’s wheels. ‘Young, Wild and Free’ is only the beginning; with the ‘ALIVE’ album release party just days away and the promise of an edgier, heavier rendition of the band’s signature sound, it’s clear that ONE NATION hasn’t finished electrifying our playlists yet!
‘Young, Wild and Free’ is available to listen to on all major streaming platforms!
Till next time!