Amy Shark’s new single is a blend of what makes both alternative and indie so great in one fine package that drives a beat forward from the moment it starts to when it ends.

The overall vibe of the track is very similar to other folk artists, but it’s far more unique and electric to simply label it as such. It has that same sixteenth-note drive led by a four-on-the-floor rhythm that many other folk songs are so well known for, but right from the get go the tune will catch the listeners off guard. Almost reminiscent of the hit son Barracuda by Heart, the intro has this galloping electric guitar that’s playing through most of the song, really feeling like Baby Steps’ heartbeat. The song doesn’t always drive on the same cadence, however, with a small bridge slowing the song right down to the bare minimum, only with voice and acoustic guitars. It’s all finished with an octave harmony delivered by the singer closing the composition, which segues wonderfully into arguably the best part of this song: Amy’s voice.  The singer’s low, deep-chested delivery, almost reminiscent of legends like Amy Winehouse and Lana Del Rey, feels soulful and raw. The arguably questionable production trick to have her double-layered for most of the track was an incredible decision in my opinion, both giving a very solo feel to the song while also really thickening the whole sound of the instrumentation and the vocals. In some ways, I almost caught a punk vibe from this production choice, which only adds to the uniqueness of the track.

Baby Steps is a great track, one that took me a few listens to really understand, but considering the short length of the song, it really didn’t take long for me to fall in love with it. It’s a warming song that embraces a lot of wonderful genres, while also feeling very unique to Amy Shark’s own tone.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.