“It Starts With Hello” is the newest single by See Your Shadow, and it’s all about the power and meaning, of simply saying, hi. See Your Shadow is a concept by Singer/Songwriter, Michael Coleman. Coleman says the project is comprised of several different musicians coming together on various timelines to create something unique and perpetual. Originally from Ohio, Coleman and SYS are now based in Phoenix, AZ. As a result of the relocation, their genre has also shifted from Dance/Electronica to of all things, Country and Western.
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The change in styles has seemingly gone well for SYS, if “It All Starts With Hello” is any indication. At 3 minutes, it’s the ideal length for a single, and Coleman says a lot without saying too much. The production quality is high, and Coleman gives a solid performance. The song leaves little to be desired and the meaning behind it, is one that we can all wrap our heads around and appreciate. The driving narrative is societal by nature, and it essentially advocates the importance of communication.
It’s interesting that SYS would make the switch, as the genre they have gone to has a large, but marginalized audience. There has always been a contingent of those who liberally express their distaste for Country Music. It’s a genre that is defined by its lifestyle and culture, and as a result, some can find it alienating. There’s something slightly different about this track, and how it’s defined as being Country. It has the aesthetic, but it somehow eclipses any genre trappings by shifting the focus to its content.
SYS says that the original version of “It Starts With Hello,” had a slower tempo. Their first live performance of the piece, was well received by audiences, but Coleman felt the song needed a boost. To his credit, Coleman reworked the track into something that would resonate, instantly. SYS cites diversity and an emerging social landscape as part of the inspiration for “It Starts With Hello.” We now live in a world where things and people are no longer defined by a binding sense of identity, yet the word, hello, is still the universal icebreaker, albeit in a variety of dialects.
Many views, many visions/many cultures, with traditions/many people/make up one world. There is certainly a timeliness about “It Starts With Hello,” in a way that is powerful without being inflammatory. In a way, the song is gently and politely reminding us how we take the smallest of gestures for granted. Without a simple, hello, our interactions would be far less linear, or sensible. The lyrics to “It Starts With Hello,” do a tremendous job in laying the groundwork for SYS’s message.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/it-starts-with-hello/1566658603?i=1566658604
“It Starts With Hello” is a great introductory piece to See Your Shadow. It’s also a pleaser for existing fans. Michael Coleman is a talented songwriter, with an outlook that is evolutionary without being confrontational. The story behind SYS is as compelling as the music that is spawned from it. They remind us that sometimes seeing our shadow, isn’t such a bad thing.
Chadwick Easton