SINGLE REVIEW: JULY MOON - WHAT A WOMAN SHOULD BE - THE HIGHWAY

Ahead of their appearance at Country Calling comes a new single from July Moon, "Wat A Woman Should Be". It manages to be sassy while making a point on the double standards that prevail into today's society. With a cover picture that shows them as adults overshadowing themselves as children, this song is not only lyrically smart but comes with a sumptuous soulful groove, with a rich organ sound being the predominant thing you hear, backed up by percussion and a crisp guitar.

The key instruments of course are the voices of July Moon who are quick to get to the point.

"Stop asking when I am getting married

Cos I ain't ready just yet

Yeah, diamonds are fine but so is

Sleeping alone in my own bed"

The most shocking phrase of many in the song sadly is "Nobody tells you how hard life is really going to be"

The chorus nails the double standards even further

"They say the want a money making Mama,

Chasin' them big city dreams

Or a down home honey with dinner in the oven

Pushing babies on a porch swing

They can't make up their minds

And they get back when I can't make up mine

Ain't it funny how somebody else always tryna tell me

What a woman should be"

Whether singing individually or combining as slick three part harmonies, Piper Bateman, Page Mackenzie, and Braelyn Watt are able imbue the correct amount if disdain and frustration to really show things up as they are.

The inequality and hypocrisy between the sexes continues to be exposed as the song develops

"God forbid I have a night out

Where I go and I drink too much

But nobody bats an eye

When a man comes home and he's black out drunk"

The a scorching guitar solo and then there is a powerful section where July Moon lay out the kind of pressure brought to bear by family It is delivered with a true force of feeling

"Yeah your Mother and your brother trying to tell me

And your cousins and the others want to tell me

Yeah they all keep telling me the same thing

But I never had anybody ask me"

The song concludes with the title being repeated three times in sweet harmony.

Need another reason to go see July Moon's UK debut? Then go check out "The Highway" and watch the difficult lyrical dilemma play out, There have been songs that take either side of the argument that July Moon are dealing with here, but not one that covers the situation quite like "The Highway"

"It ain't no secret

That I've been keeping

But that don't make it feel alright

And it ain't getting better with time

I'm not leaving

But what I'm needing

Ain't just here so I gotta go

This house ain't my only home"

The story of two people in love in a small town where one wants to stay and the other want to explore what else is out there is compelling. The easy song would be the "Adios I'm off", got to leave this small town, style song but this is not that.

Instead they opt for the optimistic if probably unrealistic where one person eternally waits while the other travels the world and all it's opportunities, because although the small town family life is the one they both hope to have together but for one just not yet!

"I wanted the wind and

The wide open space

You wanted a mailbox

With one last name

A couple of kids

That won't let us sleep in

And I do too but I don't know when

You like the quiet of a dead end street

I live for the thrill of a driver's seat

I wanted the dream

You wanted the same

Yeah you wanted me

But I want the highway"

Maybe at the end of the day it is just a less hurtful "I'm off" song but at least it is delivered with a little class, and it the sheer optimism of what else might be out there shines through.

It may start musically a little wistful but the moment July Moon mention "The Highway", they put their foot on the accelerator and keep on pressing, as the sound gets ever bigger and ever faster. A combination of strong lead vocals and excellent harmonies over a thrilling soundscape should be enough to guarantee that anyone would want to see this band perform live.

July Moon's UK Debut will be at Country Calling Aug 16th/17th Hylands Estate https://tickets.country-calling.com/events/country-calling-2025/