Gavin DeGraw Is "Free" On His Latest Record
The Singer-Songwriter’s Latest Studio Album was Released March 31.
Apr 6, 2009
Since 2003, singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw’s songs have been a staple in today’s music. His hit single, “I Don’t Wanna Be” from his first studio album, “Chariot” was featured as the theme song to the popular CW television show, One Tree Hill.
The song soared to the top of the Billboard Top 40 charts.
DeGraw released his second studio album simply titled, “Gavin DeGraw” in May 2008. His more rock-oriented record debuted at number one on the digital sales charts.
DeGraw Returns to his Musical Roots
With this latest album DeGraw sought to return to the sound he started his career with.
“My intention on “Free” was to stay out of the way of the songs,” DeGraw said on GavinDeGraw.com, the singer's official website. “We kept the production very minimal in order to get everything that lies between me and the audience out of the way. By removing all the bells and whistles, you really make room for someone to pay attention to the songwriting.”
DeGraw recorded “Dancing Shoes” and “Glass”, because he wanted to do something special for his loyal fanbase that already have an attachment to those songs.
A Fast, Flowing Follow-up to “Gavin DeGraw”
DeGraw recorded the album in about two weeks at a studio in Brooklyn, NY. He did this to avoid any overthinking with his songs.
“This album reveals the honesty about my love of music,” DeGraw said on his website. “It isn’t about the biggest, the strongest, or the loudest. It’s about simplicity in its purest form. It doesn’t sound like the big machine. It sounds like where you go to escape the big machine.”
Billboard.com reviewer, Stephen Thomas noted that the release of “Free” comes less than a year after “Gavin DeGraw” hit the shelves.
“Its swiftness is shocking considering that it took him half a decade to deliver a follow-up to his 2003 debut, “Chariot,” Thomas said.
Regardless of how fast the turnaround for DeGraw's latest album was, Thomas said, "'Free' manages to flow easily and warmly, something that couldn't quite be said of the blue-eyed soul bluster of his first two albums."
Taking his roots to the road
DeGraw has taken to the road since February of this year in support of "Free" on the "Where It Began" tour, where the audience will be treated to both full band and solo performances from the singer.
“We’ll take a similar approach to the live shows as we did on FREE,” DeGraw said on his website. “This tour is all about creating that very close connection with the audience.”
Tour dates can be found on DeGraw's MySpace music page.
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