Jonathon Penn is back with a new, meditative single, "Hawk Circling," that foreshadows his forthcoming solo album, "It Took A Long Time To Get Young." Penn's latest work continues this perfect mashup of indie rock and alt-country, an album focused on self-reflection and identity. Anchored by folksy guitars and banjo, the song feels like a hushed existential musing that's unfolding on a sunlit porch.
The song's inspirations are intriguingly literary, being haunted by the existential dread of Hamlet and the journey through Dante's Inferno, yet it is rooted in the simple act of the intimate stroll that follows Penn joining his dogs on their daily walks. This mix of the magnificent and the intimate makes for a listening experience that feels spacious and profoundly human. Recorded at the mythic Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, a spot that has played host to heavyweights like Fiona Apple and Bon Iver, the single is made all the stronger by production and multi-instrumentation from Adam Nash, which infuses its arrangement with warmth and texture.
"Hawk Circling" is an interlude to reflect on coming of age in a world that never stands still. It's a stark vocal performance from Penn that gels with the accompaniment's acoustic feel, reflecting where he's been in his creative travels while stripping things down. Taking its title from Picasso's belief that it "takes a long time to become young," the song reflects its heart and the joy of finding oneself at any age. This is an emotional anthem for anyone on the journey to self-awareness. It's a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, there is artistry, clarity, and some room for contemplation. Penn's latest single is expected to be the poignant, stirring prelude to what should be a complex record.
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