Its hypnotic groove consuming amidst ethereal vocals, “Walking True” is the latest track from Sage of New England, a band led by singer/songwriter Matthew Hayes Jacobs with producer Justin Tracy, based in New York City and Kingston, NY. Featured last year with the tracks “Encounter with a Guide,” “Fire Tales,” and “Weaknesses,” the project is poised for another stellar year ahead, starting with “Walking True.”
Initial lyrics speak to walking along the “path to truth,” and ultimately find the “path to life worth living,” — the meditative, contemplative qualities aptly reflected by lush guitars and sporadic background chiming effects. Chamber-pop adornments with subtle backing orchestral flairs permeate throughout the second half, leading into a more spoken-word section that lends ample mystique in its retrospective retelling. “Walking True” is another captivating folk gem from Sage of New England.
Sage of New England elaborates further on the track’s themes and inspirations below:
“‘Walking True’ is about investigating the mysteries of life and the desire for inner peace and truth. The lyrics explore my personal journey to grow in wisdom. There is a verse about my experience with Zen Buddhism and how my practice in this tradition has transformed my life. I also talk about the rewards of traveling, in this case to Kyoto in Japan, where I experienced an expansion of understanding. For me, this is a zen inspired folk song about living an authentic life.”
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This track and others featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of January 2022’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Folk.
