A musical umbrella shielding us from falling droplets, Arther Blue’s beautiful “Wet Shoe” evokes mellow, rainy-day romance with beachy and lush ’60s folk-pop vibes.
for fans of Angelo De Augustine, Iron & Wine, Gregory Alan Isakov
Stream: “Wet Shoe” – Arther Blue
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Arther Blue’s new song was made in and inspired by the rain, and yet his music is neither stormy, nor dark; in fact, quite the opposite: A musical umbrella shielding us from falling droplets, Blue’s beautiful “Wet Shoe” evokes mellow, rainy-day romance with beachy and lush ’60s folk-pop vibes. It’s a sun-kissed cloud of serenity, ready to wrap around us and buoy our spirits.
hey kid, whatcha doin out in the rain like that
head down, staring yourself
in the face like that (like that)
where’d you come from
and where will you go?
what’s it like to know your place?
do you wanna share my umbrella shade?
oh, oh
you could stand close
or you could wash away
oh no, oh no…
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Wet Shoe,” the third song release from Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Arther Blue. Originally hailing from the “high desert of Arizona,” Blue introduced himself just six months ago with his hauntingly moody debut single “Felt & Forgotten,” a gorgeous marriage of contemporary and alternative folk reminiscent of such modern greats as Gregory Alan Isakov and Iron & Wine. It says a lot about an artist that they can carve out their own world in any genre with just three songs, yet that’s exactly what we take away from Blue today: Between “Felt & Forgotten,” his sophomore single “Echo of the Times,” and “Wet Shoe,” Arther Blue breathes a soothing, stirring folk light into empty space.
His latest is certainly his most colorful offering yet, produced at the iconic Laurel Canyon Valentine recording studio and carrying that moody, deep reverb-laden Laurel Canyon sound that so immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia and musing in its listener.
“I was writing a lot during the midst of a strangely long rainy season in LA. I remember driving through the canyon feeling like the whole city was quieter and slower. I knew I wanted to tap into that energy with some sort of washy drum groove and beachy tremolo guitar textures, so I recorded a soft drum part (you can hear a little ambient rain in the microphones). Then I looped it while trying to find the right chords and melodies. The room I was writing in had a window overlooking a cobblestone driveway. I kept staring out, imagining someone standing near the light post while smoking a cigarette alone in the rain. There was something sad and lonely — but romantic to me. The whole story came from that imagery; as if it were a conversation from me to the stranger, wondering what their story was and longing for a bit of connection.”
street lights, looking for a place they can land on you
so cool, cigarette ash on your red wet shoe
(wet shoe)
where’d you come from
and where will you go?
what’s it like to have a place?
do you wanna share my umbrella shade?
oh, oh
you could stand close
or you could wash away
oh no, oh no…
Above and beyond the comforting story playing out in the lyrics is Blue’s utterly immersive sonic world. His simply stunning Beatles-esque flute solo offers a moment of reflection, yet it’s the indistinct radio waves below that ultimately tie everything together to make this song an absolute winner.
You can listen to “Wet Shoe” in the rain or in the shine; no matter what the weather, we all need some refuge – and Arther Blue’s song is the perfect place to wait out a storm. Indulge and escape with Arther Blue’s ambient new romance, streaming exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
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Stream: “Wet Shoe” – Arther Blue
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