‘I Am’ is the latest boundary pushing single to come from the musician and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Bruno, following the release of AWOLNATION’s second album, Run. Most famous for the hit single ‘Sail’, ‘I Am’ has elements that are very similar to that song, with electronic backing and powerful, varied vocals taking a prominent place. However, in other ways it is very different and showcases the creative and experimental nature of AWOLNATION’s music.
It starts peacefully, with Bruno’s lyrics taking prominence over simple guitar and piano melodies. The chorus, on the other hand, is a loud anthemic affair with higher pitched vocals, underlain by a pulsating electronic beat, all quite reminiscent of Imagine Dragons.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLZkf6HvO2Q&w=560&h=315]
This style can seem jarring at first and for the most part the song doesn’t have the makings of a hit single that perhaps ‘Sail’ did, but the chorus is in fact very catchy and memorable. The lyrics are simple and the electronic sections could fairly easily be danced to. It’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely give it a listen.
Words by Tim Goodfellow