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 Single by Ryan Ross Hernandez and Ellie-Grace Summersfrom the album Amongst the MadnessTitle: Blind Faith Released: September 24, 2021 Studio: Oro y Plata Studios (Livingston, Montana) Genre: Indie folk, ballad, chamber pop Length: 4:56 Label: Studio 60 Records Songwriter(s): Ryan Ross Hernandez, Ellie-Grace Summers Producer(s): Ryan Ross Hernandez, Ellie-Grace Summers "Blind Faith" is a song by American singer-songwriters Ryan Ross Hernandez and Ellie-Grace Summers. It was released on September 24, 2021, as the third single taken from their joint album, Amongst the Madness, which is scheduled to be released later this fall, via Studio 60 Records. "Blind Faith" was written by Hernandez and Summers, who also produced the track together. It is the first song off their collaborative project that is released without any prior announcement or teaser. Continuing the trend set with its preceding singles, "Blind Faith" marks another stylistic change in their collaboration following the bombastic rock number " Company Amongst the Madness" and the disco-pop sensibilities found in " All In". "Blind Faith" is a multi-layered ballad, starting off with a slow-burning, stripped-down piano arrangement, before building up to a cinematic affair with its swirling string arrangement, heightened harmonies, and minimalistic percussions. Led by Hernandez's husky baritone delivery and Summers' delicate vocals, they serve a back-and-forth throughout as they narrate a story of a deteriorating romantic relationship. The song has been defined as indie folk and chamber pop by critics, with elements of orchestral and gospel rounding out the heartfelt ballad. Ellie-Grace Summers wrote:"We all love a classic tale of head vs. heart, don't we? The causes and circumstances around the situation varies from person to person but I guarantee that everyone in some sort of relationship has arrived at an eye-opening, stark crossroads. Whether it's a romantic relationship, friendship, a family member or even career related, there's usually a fight or flight moment somewhere in our lifetime. These are decisions we don't want to make and wish would just go away. Weighing up your options, fearing the unknown, feeling loyalty to a person, feeling guilt, thinking about all the "what if" possibilities, wanting to turn your life around, not wanting to make the wrong decision. It's raw. It's stomach-churning. Our characters are right in the midst of it. That love, loyalty and adoration is there but it's being tested to an extreme. My character's sort of realising that she deserves more respect, that things can't go on like this, it's not healthy and that's something's got to give...but she's not brave enough to make a major move and there's also that naïve voice in the back of her mind that tells her it'll soon pass. More fool her."
"The soundscape of the track really does it justice. How we've pieced the song together is very delicate and tender in sound whilst still sounding cinematic. Each instrument has its moment and brings an underlying sense of urgency and drama without being too overwhelming. The strings, the piano, the electric guitar, they all tap into the sadness and tension but never outstay their welcome. The arrangements really amplify that feeling of containment, the apprehension felt in that fight or flight moment whilst also highlighting the delicateness of love and compassion. We took our time with it. It's a very intricate piece designed for a song that centres around the complexity of love." Ryan Ross Hernandez wrote:"When we came back to the states from the FCAs, we immediately went to Montana and set up camp there for about six weeks or so. The very first day we were there and getting things set up at my home studio, Ellie-Grace went straight to the piano and into her own little world. I know her uncanny genius enough that the moment I see her pick up a guitar or get behind the piano, I always make sure to hit record and have the tape running because it's going to be special. She composed and played the entire piano section you hear on the song within a day. Building out the rest of the song took more time because we were very tactful with the arrangement we wanted. We wanted a string section for that orchestral feel but aside from that and the piano, the instrumentals are very minimal. There's some electric guitar, there's some light synths, there's some drums in there. We wanted to create a vast soundscape without using too many brushes."
"In the world we created with this album and our characters, this one is particularly emotional. I shed some tears when we heard it back the first time because we were so invested in what we were writing about that you naturally build an attachment to these fictional people. That's why the record to me plays out like a movie. We jump to the midst of the film with "Blind Faith" at a time where things are not going well between this couple. They are at a crossroads where he's fighting his demons and she's struggling to keep him afloat. The blind faith here to me is the love they have for each other. Is there a point where an "I love you" is no longer enough?" The song received positive critical reviews upon release. Many music publications considered "Blind Faith" to be the strongest song Hernandez and Summers have released together. Kimberly Austin of Rolling Stone praised the "storytelling" songwriting and "sparse" instrumentation that allow their voices to shine. Pitchfork's critic Erin Dawson commended the song as a "beautifully devastating ballad" that showcases the duo's ability to paint a "detailed story" for the listener to invest themselves in. Writing for Vanity Fair, Stephanie Foster commented that "Blind Faith" brings a sense of "realism", musing that aspects of the lyrics could have been inspired by Hernandez and Summers' past romantic relationship. Spin's Allison Wainwright described the chemistry between the two artists as "undeniably smoldering" and named them "the strongest visible partnership in music" with "Blind Faith" being a "high mark". USA Today's Grace Gyllenhaal compared it to Hernandez's "introspective" songwriting style in his solo career paired "delicately" with Summers' "poetic" approach. The New York Times writer Stephen Lowry deemed the song a "benchmark" in both musician's respective discographies, praising the "emotionally-charged" delivery they bring to the table for "Blind Faith". PopMatters critic Amanda Hart described it as "earnest", specifically highlighting Summers' piano performance as "enchanting" and the ideal backdrop for the "tearjerking" lyricism. Billboard's Heather Sandberg said that "if "Company Amongst the Madness" was the lead-in to a sex-filled, post-quarantine anthem," and "All In" was made for "summer flings", then "Blind Faith" leads fans into "the cooler embrace of fall with its whiskey-drowned, script-like dialogue of a crumbling relationship." Jeffery Allen of NME called the song a "prime example" of why the pairing of Hernandez and Summers works so well, referring to "Blind Faith" as an "effortlessly remarkable single" with a "haunting" feel.
Blind FaithRyanEllie-GraceBothI'm a fucking mess these days
I've gone through bottles and can't find the answers
If you up and leave to your parents house
I won't hold it against you, darling
Your friends are probably right about me
I built you up so high and then I let you free fall
Is the version you want of me as real as water?
Is it an imploding mirage that never existed?
You don't have to say any words
I can already see it from that look in your eyes
How much I disappoint you
You were scared of what I could possibly do
You thought that I should call my therapist
Maybe she can give me some pills to feel less like myself
If I can't help myself or let you inside
What the hell is the point of it all?
Is our blind faith enough to keep us going?Bouncing between tension and melancholy
Black and blue from the constant push and shove
It's a battle just holding my head up
Stinging eyes and an exasperated little heart
My folks would never let me back
And that's why I never run to their arms
Maybe I'm foolish thinking this will blow over
Skin is raw enduring this ferocious storm
I try hard, I really do
Possibly too hung up on what used to be
Clouded by nostalgia and white picket dreams
Starting to think that glimmer of hope is a mirage
Everyone talks about how I'm such a saint
But you're the one to test my patience
You can't seem to help yourself, won't let me in
What the hell is the point of it all?
Is our blind faith enough to keep us going?Maybe we're masochists
We need to always be in pain to feel okay
Maybe we're quitters
Always giving up when things get tough
Maybe there's some blind faith in us both
That outweighs the troubles inside our heads
Maybe we can make it to the other side
I don't know what will be left by then
Maybe we can rebuild itAlways doing a little damage control
Another excuse down the line to my sister
A rain check on my best friends again
Is this really my life now?
If I'm smart then I'd pack up and get out
Maybe I'm just dumb in love?
Maybe I have an almighty savior complex?
Regardless, here I am tonightMaybe we're masochists
We need to always be in pain to feel okay
Maybe we're quitters
Always giving up when things get tough
Maybe there's some blind faith in us both
That outweighs the troubles inside our heads
Maybe we can make it to the other side
I don't know what will be left by then
Maybe we can rebuild itCan you wait it out, honey?
Until I can return to loving you
I'm fighting demons each and every night
Even with you sleeping peacefully on my chest
When the tears flow out like a waterfall
I try to steady my posture so you don't wake
You're perfect and I'm shatteredThe ice is wearing thinner
Only so much my system can take
I know that you're fighting your demons
But I'm also going rounds in the ring
A dark cloud forever looming over us
Wish we could just put a pin in it all
Rest up for a while, I'm shatteredMaybe we're masochists
(Can you wait it out, honey?)
We need to always be in pain to feel okay
(The ice is wearing thinner)
Maybe we're quitters
(I'm fighting demons each and every night)
Always giving up when things get tough
(I know that you're fighting your demons)
Maybe there's some blind faith in us both
(Can you wait it out, honey?)
That outweighs the troubles inside our heads
(The ice is wearing thinner)
Maybe we can make it to the other side
(I'm fighting demons each and every night)
I don't know what will be left by then
(I know that you're fighting your demons)
Maybe we can rebuild it
(I'm shattered)Maybe we're masochists
(Can you wait it out, honey?)
We need to always be in pain to feel okay
(The ice is wearing thinner)
Maybe we're quitters
(I'm fighting demons each and every night)
Always giving up when things get tough
(I know that you're fighting your demons)
Maybe there's some blind faith in us both
(Can you wait it out, honey?)
That outweighs the troubles inside our heads
(The ice is wearing thinner)
Maybe we can make it to the other side
(I'm fighting demons each and every night)
I don't know what will be left by then
(I know that you're fighting your demons)
Maybe we can rebuild it
(I'm shattered)--- Comparable To:
--- OOC: I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but a big thank you to my partner in this endeavor Sean/BrownSugar for the help in writing the song, as well as creating the artwork :) |
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2001clay on 25/09/2021(UTC), Mckenzie- on 25/09/2021(UTC), Famouss7x7 on 25/09/2021(UTC), BrownSugar on 25/09/2021(UTC), Welat65 on 25/09/2021(UTC), erich hess on 25/09/2021(UTC), C4AJoh on 25/09/2021(UTC), kandii on 28/09/2021(UTC), freestylechamp on 29/09/2021(UTC), RoseJapanFan on 01/10/2021(UTC), stephaniewazhere on 11/12/2021(UTC)
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