Hunter Hayes dropped the first taste of his long-awaited upcoming record, Red Sky, and it doesn’t disappoint. “Missing You” is pleasantly pop-flavored, with an organic feel that is unique to Hayes’ musical style.
While sonically in line with his more recent releases and previous record, Wild Blue, “Missing You” reminds me of his older sound more than anything else he’s released in several years. As a long-time fan (going on ten years this October!), “Missing You” has allowed me to get back in touch with why I fell in love with his music in the first place, and acknowledge how much we’ve both changed musically over the past ten years.
Hayes tells a simple and relatable heartbreak story in a brilliantly poetic way that only he can while simultaneously employing a juxtaposition common in pop-flavored music in which the mood of the lyrics doesn’t match the sound the song. Crushing lines like “that’s why I can’t stay sober // and I tell myself I’m better now ‘cause I’m good at lying” are delivered in a light, upbeat fashion. As such, “Missing You” is a cathartic track, easy to sing along to with your whole being, while subsequently releasing your pent up emotions.
Vocally, Hayes shines on this track. The lightness of the track allows his unique vocal timbre to rest in the forefront, a testament to his abilities as both a singer and a producer. He has come into his own as a vocalist in such a remarkable way since his first major label release in 2011, and these recent releases are where his skills really shine.
If the rest of Red Sky is even half as good as “Missing You,” we’re all in for a hell of a treat. You know I’ll be ready with headphones in hand to listen and review it when it finally drops!
