Hunter DeBlanc is a pianist and singer-songwriter from Lafayette, Louisiana. Synth pop hooks like Chvrches and The 1975 blended with the piano driven sensibility of Elton John or Billy Joel is how the artist’s music is often described. Hunter, has been performing live for the past 5 years, and has completed his new album titled “Daydreaming” released September 8th 2017. The genre-bending 10-track effort is the culmination of the many sounds Hunter is able to put out, equal parts haunting synthpop hooks, breathy lyrics and big choruses, as well as explorations into plenty of new sounds.
Hunter DeBlanc has crafted a skillful pop album that you can listen to while you stare out the window at some dreary weather or while you drive around under sunny skies with the top down, not an easy expanse to cover, but he does it. That said, the album is at its strongest when the Hunter sticks to exhilarating, provocative pop songs. It’s a refreshing look at how to make ear-worm songs that rely more on the musicality of the artist than the image and marketability. That’s not to say that Hunter isn’t sellable. But, he doesn’t just rely on his perception as a would-be pop star, but as musician who values his craft.
Their upbeat, electro pop-rock sound, coupled with personal lyrical meaning should win fans all over the country. The intro track “Dawn” sets the tone for what’s to come on the album. “Breaking Out” is a song that encapsulates the hallmark of the Hunter DeBlanc style with an infectious beat, happy tune and heavy drums.
The chorus is anthemic and just made for crowd sing-a-longs. The harmonies rise dramatically to a crescendo until the song cuts out sharply. Comprising more of the favored chanting-style harmonies, “When The Sun Goes Down” has a syncopated rhythm and eventually develops into a cool funky style groove. Awesome.
Unbelievably catchy vocal hooks and a powerful clap-along beat, supports the engaging melody and Hunter’s crystal clear tone that will have you hitting the repeat button for weeks on “Back 4 More”. “Night Noises V2” coupling a thick mid-tempo rhythm with powerful, coarse keyboard lines and drum-fueled goodness.
It deserves a massive stadium to really do it justice. The smooth, almost unpredictable rhythm which opens “Daydreamers” quickly settles down and becomes an even slicker, slower-paced groove. The bass is showcased in this groove-led track, grounding it, while Hunter declares: “Take the sand out of an hourglass, and build a paradise for you…)
The outro “Dusk” closes the regular show down. A short interlude that is ethereal and floats above us, on another plane of reality somewhere. Trippy but no less musically individual than the other tracks. Three more tracks await us thereafter – The Badboxes Remix, the Matt Kennedy Remix and the Stripped version of “Back 4 More”.
Each track on “Daydreaming” unwaveringly good. Rhythms are consistently infectious – tapping feet and nodding heads abound, but similarly Hunter DeBlanc isn’t afraid to dabble in catchy melodies and rich harmonies.
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