I knew I had something special on my hands seconds into Leo Sawikin’s “The Same Mistakes”. Sawikin hasn’t been around too long, his 2021 debut Row Me Away introduced him to the indie music world, but he has the necessary gifts to rise above the indie stratum and crossover into the mainstream musical scene. His songwriting talents showed great inherent skill with that aforementioned debut and have paced itself forward in a major way with this new single. “The Same Mistakes” is one of the marquee tracks from his forthcoming collection and, based on its quality alone, it’s easy to assume his second album will further burnish his already sterling reputation.
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The lyrics are among the strongest aspects of Sawikin’s presentation. He writes with both clarity and authority without ever coming across as preachy. The song examines our propensity for bumbling through life making the same errors over and over without ever hectoring the listener with an instructive bent. I hear immense humanity in his lyrical strengths. He doesn’t overwrite as well. Sawikin has superb instincts. He has an obvious command of how to best shape the lyrics to the arrangement rather than overburdening the music with excessive wordiness.
The guitar work is one of the musical highlights for me. It begins with lulling chords wreathed in a warm inviting sound and helps structure the song. He dials up the six-string intensity near the end of the song, but it doesn’t create any jarring effects. Another musical strength is how Sawikin orchestrates the song. He bookends the arrangement with a mediative feel driven by the guitar and he handles the steady uplift from its beginnings into the later guitar fireworks with expert skill.
Sawikin’s vocals are exceptional and ideally suited for the song. He has an elastic voice that’s equally capable of sensitivity and power without ever striking an uneasy contrast. I like how he never sings the same line twice. He’s a thoughtful singer and delivers emotive rewards with each line. Experienced music fans/listeners will appreciate the detail and intelligence he conveys with his phrasing.
Phil Ek produces the track and his work with an assortment of now globally recognized bands such as Modest Mouse and Fleet Foxes, to name only a couple, makes him perfect for this track. Sawikin has latched onto a producer who shares his creative inclinations and understands how to best portray the songwriter’s talents.
Leo Sawikin is clearly on his way. He has a debut behind him, the pandemic in his rearview mirror and receding fast, and looking forward to the future. “The Same Mistakes” is just the song that Sawikin needs at this juncture to propel his career to the next level, and it illustrates the massive steps forward he’s made in COVID-19’s aftermath. There are even greater triumphs waiting for him in the future. “The Same Mistakes” will affect you emotionally and the musical excellence of the song will linger with you long after the final notes fade. It’ll make you crave even more.
Garth Thomas