Single Review: Second Self

Singer songwriter CampbellMack, alias of Campbell MacKenzie, has just released his new single Second Self. As a guitar player himself from the age of six, also having released now six streamable singles with viably different influences, you can really hear the “thinking and feeling” aspect of musicianship in this song.

This song is mixed and mastered well, with resonant melody and admirable lyric. The song’s structure is crafted well, each verse flows into one another, but also climbs with the story. Life definitely can keep us “on the rocks” and often finding one that steadies this journey can feel like the missing piece. The two guitars are a strong element that piece the song together; while the acoustic guitar leads, the electric guitar makes the melody. The song tells a story of two like-minded selves meeting in parallel, then uniquely transitions into a duet-like finish with the complimentary backing vocals of Jenna Jones. Here, the artist uses word painting to symbolise the bond of the two individuals coming together, adding this as the powerful finale of the song. The single leans on the acoustic pop/rock side, with theatrical elements and a trace of country.

We all know it takes more than perfecting an instrument to write a song and influence others. Each musician, whether they want to play for the world or not, understands music sometimes has a niche and has an audience that their composition, performance and lyric will inspire. I believe both the lyric and song structure do this well to this artist’s many open ears. You can listen here.