George Ezra has given the world exactly what it needed this never-ending winter with his sophomore album, “Staying at Tamara’s.”
The 24-year-old English singer-songwriter and musician came out with his second album March 23, more than three years after his debut, “Wanted On Voyage.”
After a long year of touring for “Wanted on Voyage,” Ezra took some time off before heading to Barcelona to write “Staying at Tamara’s,” according to New Musical Express, a British music magazine.
Ezra’s deep voice has always been captivating. In his debut album and all of his EPs, the sound is almost addicting.
In “Staying at Tamara’s,” his intoxicating voice is mixed with upbeat sounds playing behind it. The sounds not only captivate, but they also transcend the listener into a magical, beautiful, warm world. It feels like the beginning of a relationship, where everything is spectacular and new, and you’re constantly giddy.
The lyrics radiate positivity, and the album provides an escape from the bitter, cold wind of winter and brings you to a summer month.
Upon hearing the opening song, “Pretty Shining People,” I was pulled off of a cold, ripped-up seat of a city bus in March and placed into the front seat of a convertible in July, hair whipping in the wind.
Somehow, Ezra has given us a sneak peak into summer with his music. I suppose I’m not the only one who thinks so, because as of March 27, his album was No. 21 in the top albums on iTunes.
On March 18, he tweeted out a screenshot of the song “Paradise” hitting No. 1 as well, saying he was “laying an egg,” which is a saying I’ve never heard, but, hey, if it works, it works.
The album has you singing along before you even know the words, saying them just a second after he does to fake it. The first song on the album, “Pretty Shining People,” will have you humming along the melodies until the chorus is memorized, which doesn’t take long.
“Hey pretty smiling people, we're alright together / We're alright together,” Ezra sings over booming, sunny music.
The lyrics and sound are overwhelmingly positive. It’s the kind of music that makes me want to skip down the street in a long dress, or run through a field of sunflowers.
“Paradise” is my favorite example of music that feels like it’s made of sunshine. Ezra’s signature deep voice and snappy background music comes in before the music explodes and the lyrics begin telling a story of love.
“If it feels like paradise running through your bloody veins / You know it’s love heading your way,” Ezra sings, and I sing with him.
While singing along with Ezra, it’s easy to forget about the rain outside, or the sun hiding behind clouds.
As you walk through a dreary day, his music makes you feel the sun on your skin. It makes you feel alive. It makes you long for a hot summer day, sitting outside of a pub with a pint, watching the traffic as you get a sunburn on your shoulders and nose.
I saved this album before I even heard it because I knew it’d be worth it. I recommend you do the same and prepare yourself for the type of sunshine that only music can deliver.
To go along with the summer theme I hear in “Staying at Tamara’s,” I made a playlist titled “Summer in March” and added artists, including Jake Bugg, Vance Joy, Passenger, Noah And The Whale and, of course, plenty of George Ezra. You can listen to it here.
