Taste Test: Toby Johnson finally lets ‘Isla’ go
The new folk tunesmith muses on a past lover for a truly warm and mesmerizing debut song.
Welcome to Taste Test, a song/video review series of SubmitHub-only gemstones
People come into our lives randomly, and they leave randomly. As hard as it might seem in the moment, we have to know when it’s time to accept life’s transitions and chug along to the next stop down the way. English folk newcomer Toby Johnson underscores such a lesson with his debut song. “Isla,” named after his former lover, zigs and zags on the dusty trail of personal growth. His voice is warm and kind, pouncing along snaky production that slithers and squirms with delight for the past. His cheeks flush red and dot with relief; he’s not bitter for what transpired, only thankful and resigned to his new reality. “Isla, please don’t forget me,” he sings. Acoustic guitar wraps its chords around shakers and the gentle wallop of a drum kit, subtly outlining his vocals. His heart bounds through his shirt, impressing upon the listener the necessity of acceptance.
“Isla” anchors his debut EP, expected later this year.
Listen below:
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