SINGLE REVIEW: MIA RAMO - JOHNNIE WALK AWAY

Further proof should any be needed, that no-one managed to catch everyone at Country Calling comes with the new single from Mia Ramo - "Johnnie Walk Away", for it immediately tweaked our FOMO reflex that we may have missed out on something special.

Mia has three singles currently to her name, each of which is well worthy of a listen, and she has managed to spend the last three months immersing herself in Nashville culture. For all that Mia's latest carries its own unique sound.

The sound is most beguiling, there feels like lots of space and the guitars especially wail in the background while the percussion occupies the listeners foreground along with Mia. There's almost more of a restrained soulful jazz sound, not in a hurry to get anywhere, however the twin lyrical narratives are pure Nashville. Mia's vocals have definitely also adapted to the Tennessee twang with little suggesting she is a UK export.

Mia is most definitely lyrically inventive, the title could easily have been Johnnie Walker Way as there are two conflicting narrative strands, one containing returning to an ex that you know shouldn't and the other the whiskey that Mia falls back to in this song when things inevitably go wrong. At times they are almost cleverly interchangeable.

"‘Another Saturday night, we meet again

I told the same old lie, to all of my friends

I'll deny the proof

Back on this barstool

Breaking my own rules

For you"

The opening verse could arguably be about either, we find Mia in a bar somewhat ashamed, for she has avoided telling her friends the truth. The pre chorus and chorus find Mia being equally pixieish, is it the man or the drink she is addressing?

"I just can’t quit

Just one more sip

And I slip back for another round

I know my bars too far in the ground

So I’ll dive headfirst into the high

And say the hurts worth one good night

You burn me every time, but hell I stay

Please Johnnie walk away"

The work "slip" sees the band burst into action

It is only on the second verse that things become a little clearer, though mention of "The rocks" once more could be playing a dual role.

"Can’t count all the times I’ve stopped myself

From dialling your line when I’m doing well

Keep my mind off the rocks

Dodge memories at all costs

Make it until the clock

Strikes two"

The bridge, sees the band fade back into the background leaving Mia's vocals prominent, lyrically it also ends by seamlessly slipping back into the chorus.

"You know it gets me when you’re making those eyes

I sink into your shade of blue every time

You know what you need to do, quick before I..."

Well conceived with co writer Ashley Nothnagel, and excellently produced by Julia Morey who has gone to a lot of work to make that seemingly laid back sound. There is actually a lot of instrumentation, some barely audible that has gone into making the total mix so successful.

Mia Ramo - one to watch for sure