The new song “Love The Lie” from Bay Area songstress Megan Graney is a welcomed blend of jazz, neo soul and some R&B grooves. Relying heavily on vocals that captivate a whirlpool of emotions and imagery, Graney’s smooth victory is well-earned. Just as much as she beguiles the listener with her range, her natural cadence and warmth is something very special. “Love The Lie”, a song that could be about self-reflection or even a relationship that changes the person within its confides, is one of the more austere singles in indie music today. That said, it has a wide appeal.
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Graney’s enriched voice, a mixture of Lena Horne and Diana Krall, is superb. It’s as if she has sunshine running through the middle of the smoky plumes her voice emits. I like to think of her singing this song on a night that feels just a bit chilly, but by her presentation and maybe even the warmth of the crowd, the frost is all forgiven. “Love The Lie” alludes to this vibe of a personal diary, but I do think she’s communicating to the audience that they can share in her experience. Will you ever come back, she sings, as if she really already knows the answer is yes. Still, her offering and the way she grips the listener in with her silky vocals, laced with just the slightest amount of baritone, is intriguing.
Flowing beneath the vocals is a riverbend of tickling piano keys, a brushing percussion and jazzy guitar riffs. I also encountered brass – with the horns jamming just under the radar. This song has the capabilities to become improvised jazz, and as mentioned above, Graney has the right voice to achieve just about anything. I think the way that the music holds tight and keeps itself so tethered to the core of the song, it makes me think that it’s mirroring the theme of the song. If you are really trying to not become the person you don’t want to be, don’t let yourself go. If you are loving the lies that you are creating, a façade for people to see what they want to see, you would keep most of it behind a wall or curtains. I think the music bed really reflects this idea. She embraces ‘the lie’ just a bit, and when the jams come out to play at a more amplified mix, it’s yet another reminder that in life (and to yourself) you can’t hold things in for too long. “Love The Lie” is a polished, well-produced track.
Graney makes it easy to like what she’s recording. I think she brings a wealth of flavor and depth into “Love The Lie”. While it’s not your typical jazz song, it’s also not your typical pop song. During one moment I even thought I was jamming to an Earth, Wind & Fire ballad. “Love The Lie” surprises just as much as it invigorates. It really grew on me and I think it’s deserving of high praises. Megan Graney really impresses.
Garth Thomas