Singer-songwriter duo Casey Wickstrom and Taylor Rae have just released their newest single, “Post”, a song ten years in the making.
THE BACKSTORY
In 2010, Northern California musician Casey Wickstrom wrote and recorded a demo of his song Post. It was a musical story about a nuclear holocaust, set to a melodious, indie-folk lullaby. The song dealt with themes of death and despair, and the human condition of being alone—though you wouldn’t know it from the bright and warm melody that Post showcases on the surface. This effortless juxtaposition between masterful melodies and serious, dark subject matter has become one of Wickstrom’s greatest strengths as a songwriter.
In the ten years after first recording Post, Casey faced those same themes personally: the aftermath of a near death car collision with a drunk driver in 2011 sent him spiraling into four years of drug addiction, PTSD, and suicidal depression. Finally able to get clean in 2015, Wickstrom continued to expand on an accomplished catalogue of music, writing, and videos. After meeting well-known Santa Cruz singer-songwriter Taylor Rae in 2020, Wickstrom knew her voice would be perfect for a new, definitive version of his song Post.
“Post” is a song overflowing with character. The guitar melody alone could be it’s own instrumental track, and I would still listen to it on repeat. As Wickstrom’s voice enters with just enough presence to sound like he’s singing right in front of me, I’m gripped by the lyrics:
I realize the birds
lyrics by Casey Wickstrom
will never fly
anymore
I am alone
I am alone
I am alone
It’s in the second chorus, when Taylor Rae joins in with some beautiful harmonies, that the impact of the lines really stands out and the song goes from great to incredible. Enter a simple piano melody and lush harmonies along with the repetition of the line “I am alone” and you’re speaking to my sensibilities directly, I’ll never get tired of it.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
CASEY WICKSTROM is a multi-instrumentalist and live looping artist, vocalist, music producer, writer, and film editor. Born in Northern California, Wickstrom was raised in the small mountain town of Durango, Colorado, where he was influenced by the sounds of Paul Simon, Ben Harper, as well as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A full time musician, he’s released five studio albums, and a long list of singles, live recordings, and EPs. His songs have charted on Apple Music Blues charts, and he has been named among the Top 100 Unsigned Artists by Music Connection Magazine. He’s also a published author, writing extensively on his website blog. In his spare time, he teaches guitar, yoga, and mindfulness classes in Silicon Valley, CA.
TAYLOR RAE is a guitarist/singer/songwriter born and raised in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California. She has consistently been releasing albums and singles since she was a sophomore in high school. Now at 27, Taylor has found a way to modernize her unique 60s & 70’s inspired sound while blending jazz, psychedelic folk and classic blues/rock into a melting pot of organic music she calls “Soul and Roll”. In 2017 she was awarded the Santa Cruz NEXTies “Musician of the Year.” She is a full time performer, averaging 200 shows per year. She now resides in Austin, Texas and has immersed herself in the live music scene there. She is currently recording a self-engineered and produced acoustic album that will include thirty original songs.
Follow the artists below:
Casey Wickstrom: Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Spotify
Taylor Rae: Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Spotify
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