“You’re Gonna Be Ok” is the newest EP from Florida native turned Knoxville local Benjamin Donaldson, who goes by the musical persona The New Apologetic. His acoustic guitar acts as his right hand man on the release, providing the EP’s sole instrumentation. Comprised of only four tracks, this may be a shorter listen, but it’s certainly no less rewarding.
The EP kicks off with “Clean Break,” a lively tune about the impending downfall of a relationship. His raspy voice welcomes you into his world and his soothing melodies keep you captivated.
While he may specialize in writing sad songs, his lyrics always seem to have a level of encouragement to them. This is especially true for “Press On,” the EP’s third track. He sings, “When the gas light’s on and the tears won’t dry, when the day is gone and there’s no sign of life, when it takes all you are just to stay alive – please stay alive. Stay alive.”
Even without the lyrics, his guitar tells stories in itself. And with those two facets combined, Donaldson is able to deliver honest, heartfelt songs again and again.
The final track, “Hangover,” carries a vintage, mystical sound to it that parallels some of Conor Oberst’s more recent work. While this happens to be the EP’s shortest track, it also happens to be one of the most memorable.
Since these tracks all have a heavier subject matter, they serve as a great companion for anyone going through a tough time. But not only that – they’re enjoyable to listen to as well. As the EP’s title suggests, Donaldson imparts one overall message: no matter how heavy things may get, everything always gets better.
His songwriting style is both thoughtful and engaging at the same time. He brings a sense of intimacy to the table that gives his music a personal, relatable air. Donaldson keeps his instrumentation to such a minimum on this release for the same reason – to allow his lyrics to take full effect in the minds of listeners.
While this is an entirely acoustic release, his music also works well with backing. Donaldson released his Sophomore EP at The Open Chord in late October, where he enlisted the help of a bassist and an electric guitar player to provide his songs with a more atmospheric live sound.
The only thing left to say after these four tracks is: more, more, more! It’s clear that Donaldson has a great deal more up his sleeve, and we’re going to be seeing a lot more of him in the future. There’s no telling what he could pack into a full-length release, but one thing is for certain – there are quite a few of us ready to find out.
