John Newman’s latest single ‘Stand By Me’ is a gentle, laid-back love song that thrives on sneaking up with its emotional undertones.

Newman has made a name for himself in recent years due to his dynamic vocals that he’s lent to a number of features with other artists, but the twenty-nine-year-old has still yet to conquer the charts with his solo efforts. This romantic ballad could be a step in the right direction, as it’s exactly the kind of composition that catapulted the likes of Ed Sheeran and Niall Horan into the spotlight. What’s most notable about this tune is how simplistic its beats are; Newman makes no effort to take the instrumentation out of the second gear. 

His vocals take first priority and the musical arrangement absolutely supports that. Only during the chorus do the acoustic guitars begin chiming in, and it actually invigorates the piece with a sense of hope and earnestness. ‘Stand By Me’ is a fairly common phrase, having been used in a number of tunes, films and other properties over the years. It holds a special meaning for the fans, who don’t just perceive it as a simple love song. It’s long been an anthem of unity, struggle and hope. And Newman invokes those very same themes in each and every word of his song; he does not hold back from expressing admiration for his loved ones who stand by him through the ups and downs. And sometimes there is no better emotional release than the medium of song. 

Newman has remained outside of the public radar for a few years. His last album was released back in 2015, so fans will be hoping that he hits the recording studio for a possible fourth album. He has been forthcoming about his struggles with mental health, and he even chose to perform in smaller venues in 2019 as a result. He said, “I’m so excited to just release music that makes me feel so good and that I love. If people want to come on that journey with me, I’m so ready.” 

 Singer-songwriter 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.