(April 16, 2020) Gainesville, Florida-based outfit The Savants of Soul has made a bold impact on the live circuit over the past decade with its riveting brand of authentic soul. On “Son Be Strong,” the first single from the group’s self-titled upcoming third album, lead vocalist Justin McKenzie relays the words of a father imposing strict notions of masculinity at the expense of emotional well-being.
(April 16, 2020) Gainesville, Florida-based outfit The Savants of Soul has made a bold impact on the live circuit over the past decade with its riveting brand of authentic soul. On “Son Be Strong,” the first single from the group’s self-titled upcoming third album, lead vocalist Justin McKenzie relays the words of a father imposing strict notions of masculinity at the expense of emotional well-being.
Founding member and bassist John Gray Shermyen tells SoulTracks, “‘Son Be Strong’ was one of the first songs we wrote for this record, and we think it sets the tone for the whole album. It’s a track solidly in the tradition of the kind of southern soul that came out of FAME Studios in the ‘60s, with a healthy dollop of blues and rock ’n’ roll thrown in the mix. There’s no pretense here, just a frank discussion—an indictment of the worst parts of modern masculinity, the kind still beaten into men by fathers and father figures, and the zero-sum world it helps create. Both in sound and subject matter, it epitomizes who we are now and where we want to be.”
Recorded at Muscle Shoals’ FAME Studios (Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones), the electric “Son Be Strong” drives the point home with the blazing drums of Alex Klausner, a fiery horn section, and the guitar strains of Will Campbell. Take a First Listen to the single below and leave your thoughts on the groove and the message!
by Justin Kantor
World Premiere!
Savants of Soul - "Son Be Strong"