Today's Song: Quarry Breaks Boundaries on "No Ordinary Love"

Though a newcomer on the scene, Quarry’s low-maintenance indie charm has already caught the ears of some of the most influential voices in the industry.

follow our Today’s Song(s) playlist

Stream: “No Ordinary Love” – Quarry

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/661681676″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=true&visual=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

There are some artists who have so much raw talent and vision that they can just let their music speak for itself — no need for a well-curated social media presence or eccentric persona, zero room for gimmicks. From the town of Hertfordshire, England, Quarry is one of those artists. Though a newcomer on the scene, Quarry’s low-maintenance indie charm has already caught the attention of some of the most influential voices in the industry (including BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac).

His debut single, “White Wishy Washy World,” was an experimental alt-pop gem that immediately showed off boundless artistic potential. The follow-up couldn’t be a more distinctive 180-degree shift. Just months after making his stark first impression, Quarry returns with a haunting ballad that demonstrates the remarkable power of restraint and simplicity. “No Ordinary Love” is carefully crafted and wholly compelling, gentle and heady all at once.

No Ordinary Love - Quarry — No Ordinary Love – Quarry

Heralded as a “self-contained artist,” Quarry developed his sound nearly in solitude, producing dreamy soundscapes in his own bedroom. This sense of creative lonerism rings true on “No Ordinary Love.” Quarry breaks through the boundaries of genre, appealing to fans of big names like Ben Howard, Matt Corby, Yellow Days, and Bon Iver.

I hate that I’ve been trying to ride the satellite
Holding out my heart to find another one
Reaching for a line I’ve said a thousand times
Any day I’ll make my way to paradise

According to Quarry, the track embodies “a message of personal growth, the internal battle of wanting more and the battle to break old habits.” There’s a desolation lingering in the liminal spaces of a melody so delicately composed. It’s a stripped-back tune, but strikingly direct. Each word is intentional; sharp, yet soft. You’re transported not only to a moment of pain and loss but also to one of strength and clarity. We don’t have to wallow in our sadness. We have to move through it.

Somewhere far from home
It’s sad to know
No ordinary love
Will ever be enough

There’s a certain freedom that can only be granted through vulnerability and truth. You feel a tangible release of tension as the song builds after the second chorus, buzzing with entropy. “No Ordinary Love” may be short and sweet, but it packs an emotional punch. With lyrics so vague, Quarry manages to tell a specific story. It’s one we’ve all been a part of — where do we go when the love we crave is no longer matched by the love we receive? Quarry pushes all the right buttons, inviting us all to relive that one instance of heartache that changed it all. There’s nothing that speaks more directly to who we are at our cores and no experience more universal.

You may want to squeeze an artist like Quarry into some overly specific sub-genre, but a song like “No Ordinary Love” proves there’s a world in which we can move beyond the confines of genre. We can experience this song for what it is: an intricately and purposefully crafted track that showcases striking vocals and exudes limitless potential.

Stream: “No Ordinary Love” – Quarry

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/661681676″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&visual=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

— — — —