Having championed Macartney Reinhardt since her debut single "Shadows", it has to be said that #TEAMw21 feel a little invested in her progression and as each new track drops it feels like a little progress report. We have followed her adventure as she has uprooted from Atlanta Georgia to Nashville Tennessee as she chases her dream.
Our biggest fear on her moving to Nashville is that this individual talent might be forced to blend in with everyone else thereby losing the unique quality that makes her so special - her latest single "Hey Girl" seems to suggest that it may be Nashville that has to adapt to her!
This is a song for anyone suffering from life's pressures and many may find inspiration and draw hope from the lyrics in this classy little number.
The song opens Macartney playing her acoustic guitar as her future self gives her a pep talk - this life style she has chosen is not going to be easy. There is some very subtle instrumentation in the background but in essence what we get is raw Macartney and it is magnificent.
"Hey Girl - Don't let another tear give you away
Don't light their fire and let them take the glory - it ain't their story
Hey Girl don't think you don't have strength enough to fight
Let go of the weight that's on your shoulders - don't mean its over
This heart was meant to march to its own beat and
When life has you praying on your knees"
The chorus sees the band burst into life with jangly guitars and percussion which Macartney effortlessly takes in her stride
"Hey Girl - on the days you think you can't get out of bed
And you can't get through the maze inside your head
All the problems you can't solve them and there ain't no-one to call that hasn't heard
Hey Girl - One day you'll look at all this with a smile
Knowing brick by brick it builds you mile for mile
and all that's worth remembering is that you'd do it all again
To be this girl"
The second verse is a little reminder that there will be other hurdles along the way to overcome
"Hey Girl don't you think that hearts weren't meant to break
and when it falls apart the pieces shatter but it don't matter"
The final chorus sees the band die down a little and Macartney is shown to have the most engaging of pop country voices as she delivers the opening couple of lines.
Hey Girl is released June 2nd