Chris St John’s new album Fly Away will warm your heart and make you feel seen. St John released his debut album I’m Dreaming in 2021, after spending the last two years writing enough songs to fill two albums. St John spent time in Nashville recording Fly Away with legendary producer Stephen Wrench. Fly Away is 13 tracks of upbeat rock songs, ballads, and a few musical outliers. All of these genres converge on Fly Away, highlighting St John’s vocal range and artistry. Whatever genre St John chooses to explore, he nails. St John voice suits whatever genre he is singing in making Fly Away an extremely diverse album and an experience within itself.
There is a naturally soothing quality to St John’s voice that makes every song on Fly Away a feel good track. Even when St John is singing about his son going off to college, on title track “Fly Away,” you still feel comforted. There is something deeply accessible about St John’s voice and the topics he sings about. Whether its about the woes of social media, falling in love, or grief, St John knows how to cut deep. Songs like “Fly Away” and “The Disappear” swim around in your heart the moment the melodies start. St John has the musical hook down. “Hey Siri” opens with a bubbly African groove that reminds me Little Creatures era Talking Heads. “Hey Siri” has the most unique sound out of everything on Fly Away but St Johns buttery voice makes it fit right in.
“Look for Me” blends St Johns velvety voice with dreamy acoustic guitar instantly transporting listeners into a revery. “Look for Me” is a beautiful track that opens with St John singing “Look for me I’m the sunrise/Breathe me I’m in the air.” St John doesn’t push his voice, he sings with ease, knowing that the softer the better. An electric guitar croons gently in the background highlighting poetic lyrics and creating a sense of timelessness. St John shows off his lyrical skill with effortlessly profound lyrics like, “Still waters to spirit worlds” and “Walk with me by the tide line/Sprawling dunes like ribbons laid unfurled.” “Look for Me” calms you when you listen to it, there is a deeply meditative quality that stay with you after one listen.
Fly Away explores the human experience with an ease that only comes from St Johns remarkable artistry. St John creates a safe place to remind listeners what life is really about. How quickly times passes and how important it is to spend time with those we love. St John gives fans a myriad of ways to celebrate life and music whether he’s singing very personal ballads or telling a story of a man finding love and losing it on “Me and You.” There is no denying that St John has a knack for finding the truth and making it easy to swallow, a trait that can’t be missed on Fly Away.
Chris St John has found a way to give the inexplicable a sound. Every track on Fly Away is evocative and thought provoking, you will leave this album changed. If you’re in need of music that will both soothe and inspire you, you cannot afford to miss Fly Away. St John will have you smiling, laughing, crying, and reminiscing over the course of 13 tracks. Don’t miss it!
Chadwick Easton