Henry Howard & The Six Strings – oblivion (2025)
While this is my introduction to Henry Howard & The Six Strings, the US-based artist has been sharing music since the beginning of the year with his debut single, ‘Plain Beige Walls’. Known for his insightful lyricism, poetic performances, and all-around moving music, Howard is growing a loyal following across his native USA with confident live shows and features on media like Melodic Noise Reviews and WDIO News. Join us as we delve into his most recent release, ‘oblivion’.
Following his first studio single, ‘The Fire & The Smoke’, Henry Howard finds the line between old-school folk and blues, then blurs it with ‘oblivion’. Self-penned, composed and produced, the track is soothing and mellifluous with an underlying elegance in its overall production; however, as much as there is a hidden maturity to ‘oblivion’, it brims with raw and playful innocence. Moreover, it showcases the beauty of acoustic music with its bare-bones vocals and guitar arrangement – proof that no burst of drums or soaring guitars is required for a touching single.
One aspect I find intriguing about ‘oblivion’, and Howard’s complete discography, is the immersive nature of what are simplistic melodies. Soft vocals and a flowing guitar exude laidback tranquillity that seeps into your skin; however, the subtle fragility brooding in Howard’s calm vocals seems to grab your heart and shiver down your spine. For me, listening to ‘oblivion’ was like being dipped into a kaleidoscopic pool of water where you feel entirely overwhelmed by everything, but oddly assured that nothing can touch you.
Sincere, sentimental and heart-warming, Henry Howard & The Six Strings bring a contemporary edge to vintage folk with his original singles, ‘The Fire & The Smoke’ and ‘oblivion’. I have but one complaint about ‘oblivion’: it’s too damned short. Coming in at three minutes and thirty seconds, it might seem a suitable length for radio-friendly songs, but you can trust me, it’s over far too soon. Henry Howard & The Six Strings is a highly recommended artist, and I cannot wait for more from this talented musician.
Find out more about Henry Howard & The Six Strings on his Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.
Listen to more folk music on The Other Side Reviews Folk playlist:
