New Music Preview: “So Break It” by Lamain
Don't think academics when you're listening to the debut solo project from singer-songwriter Marty Lamain."So Break It," the seven-song release by the former Grand Rapids church music minster, just happens to double as Lamain's graduate school thesis (Lamain moved to Nashville two years ago to study vocal performance at Belmont University).
I give him an "A" for effort on this expressive and often soul-baring package of tunes.
The title track comes from a line in the ballad "It'll Take Something Beautiful." The lyrics tell of the emotional wall built by the writer to keep out pain and hurt, yet revealing a longing for connection. "It'll take something beautiful to break it down....so break it down," he invites.
"Syringe" is a rather dark ballad that explores the labyrinth of addiction, once again with emotional vocals.
On the brighter side are "Coming Up For Air" and "Stay Like This," – both with dance-able rhythms.
Also noteworthy are "Muse," a guitar-anchored treatise that paints wonderful word pictures of an artist pleading for his inspiration to stay close; and "See You Around" with its conversational vocals.
Back in his Grand Rapids days (he studied at Cornerstone University), Lamain was the lead singer of the faith-based rock band Cities and Saints. He also served as minister of music at True Light Baptist Church, an African-American congregation on Thomas St. SE in Grand Rapids. ('They called me their "light-skinned soul brother,'" he said of the welcoming True Light church family).
You can hear all seven new songs on Lamain's YouTube channel
