Words by Captain’s Bar events manager, Say Something Music label owner and promoter Scott Evans
Anyone who keeps up with my reviews will know I’m not shy about being a fan of Olivia Miceli. Since her brilliant Nostalgic Breakup album her musical output has been great, building a reputation of intelligent songwriting with clever life observations. So I couldn’t have been more surprised by her new single Guys Like You.
Don’t get me wrong, Guys Like You is unmistakably Olivia Miceli – the almost Susan Vega fast delivery of clever words, stacked vocals and great arrangement, but Guys Like You is unashamedly pop. A big departure from the ballad style of previous output and it’s honestly fantastic.
This song deserves a lot of attention. As with her previous releases the track is written, performed and produced by herself which for me makes it all that more remarkable. Why? Well in an age where collaborations are very much encouraged to keep your sound fresh being so self contained is rare, and then being able to switch the feel and song make up shows a real great talent.
A kick drum and syncopated acoustic guitar starts the song off and it has a real commercial feel to it, Olivia can always deliver a catchy vocal melody and this is no different. The detail to production and musical layers in the second verse is world class, the hand claps, lush strings, panning synths, on point bass it’s all there. A real highlight is the backing vocals that kick in halfway through the song, it gives the song a quality of Taylor Swift or Olivia Rodrigo hit.
Even though lyrically it’s got a bit of a bad relationship feel to them, there is no doubt that this is a feel good summer hit – as good as anything you are likely to hear this summer.
As I said earlier this song deserves a lot of love, if you compare it to the latest Katy Perry single that has eleven writers and four producers Guys Like You is streets ahead, a big statement I know but have a listen and you will feel exactly the same.
