S J Denney – Tread Carefully (2023)
Inspired by humanity and the core of our being, singer-songwriter S J Denney often touches on intimate themes like relationships, love, loss and self-discovery in his sonic life journey. From the empowering optimism of ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ to the façade of happiness masking a quiet burning inside in ‘A Silent Scream’, UK-based Denney elegantly exposes human fragility in delicate melodies. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Tread Carefully’.
When we last heard S J Denney, he was serenading us with the innocent, youthful but mature single ‘Trying To Be Somebody’. Filled with vulnerability but formed as a song to capture Denney’s artistic vision, the braveness of ‘Trying To Be Somebody’ filters through to the expressive ‘Tread Carefully’; however, the new song is more profound with a resonating intensity. While ‘Trying To Be Somebody’ was penned several years ago and only approached in 2023, ‘Tread Carefully’ was born rather quickly.
Self-recorded and produced in collaboration with Mat Leppanen (mixing) and Nigel Palmer (mastering), S J Denney’s new song is a blend of indie-rock with jazz-rock and tinges of folk. Soothing, calm and laidback, ‘Tread Carefully’ has a chilled vibe made to ease any upsetting situation. Drums beat below a dynamic guitar with a gentle mellifluous flow; however, while the saxophone harmonically flows into the arrangement, its boldness brings an edginess to the simple melody.
While ‘Tread Carefully’ is a smooth single and can be played when sitting back to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon, it is far more profound than leaning back in an armchair with a drink in your hand. Instead, it is a deeper, more intimate single touching on upset relationships and the potentially tumultuous progression. Denney explains, “I’d been thinking about an ongoing saga with a friend and reminded myself that I needed to tread carefully…”
Sincere, genuine and heartwarming, S J Denney graces us once again with his honest, soul-stirring music.
For more from S J Denney, check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
