McKay - “Last Man Alive”
Photo by Greta Mathes
Nashville, Tennessee-based McKay have just released the soulful indie folk track, “Last Man Alive.” The track beautifully touches on the themes of self-reflection and authenticity through good, old-fashioned acoustically driven storytelling.
“Last Man Alive” is built around the rich textural drive of acoustic guitar. The playing switches between muted and open chords, which imbues a pleasing gritty quality into the composition. Contrasting this is the sounds of a banjo, which brightly weaves warm mellow tones around this element.
Layers are thoughtfully added and removed to give a satisfying sense of ebb and flow. Piano gracefully fleshes out and enhances the melodies. Electric guitar cries reflectively and longingly, whilst harmonica adds a soulful depth. Anchoring the composition over key areas are bass and kick drum. These shifting textures allow the composition to express different moods, from reflective intimacy to more upbeat and lively vibes.
The vocals on “Last Man Alive” are delivered with the energy of a live performance. They are passionate and unpolished. The two vocalists work wonderfully and harmoniously together, enhancing the emotional depth of the lyrics.
Mckay’s songwriter and vocalist Hudson Haining describes the meaning behind the track: “’Last Man Alive’ was inspired by the question, how much of what I do and say is for how others perceive me and how much is for myself? Over Three verses I ask “If I was the last man alive.” The question is applied to three different scenarios; passage of time, pursuit of knowledge, and pursuit of fame and status. The goal is to question how many things does everyone do every day that we would never do if we were only acting for ourselves.”
“Last Man Alive” is a well-crafted track that takes the listener on an exquisite introspective journey. The arrangement and vocals have a great feeling of authenticity, which ultimately results in a song that should not be missed.