Taking a look back at his past, reflecting on it, and then showcasing how far he has come, Payson Lewis goes for it for his awesome new EP, titled “retrospection (19:30)”. The EP contains six tracks that include singles that he has released over the past few years, emphasising his own personal growth journey, that he has. This only adds to the fact that he plans to debut a brand new era for his career, this summer. The release of this EP acts as the follow-up to his collaboration with Emily Rosenfield on the single “DANCE”.
Payson Lewis, a talented artist hailing from Philadelphia, is making waves in the music industry with his infectious indie-pop sound. Growing up, Payson Lewis immersed himself in his older brothers’ CD collections, teaching himself to sing and play the piano by ear. He later ventured westward to pursue his musical aspirations at USC and establish himself as an artist in Los Angeles. With his captivating vocals and dynamic stage presence, Payson Lewis garnered attention and achieved a Top-4 finish on NBC’s “The Sing-Off”. Since then, his musical journey has taken him around the world, from performing with symphony orchestras in Taiwan and Korea to starring in theatrical productions in Chicago and Las Vegas. Payson Lewis’ versatility extends beyond music, as he has also showcased his acting skills on popular TV shows like “Jane the Virgin”, “The People vs. OJ Simpson”, and “How I Met Your Mother”. Alongside his diverse endeavours, Payson Lewis has gained a significant following through his YouTube channel, where his cover songs, including Taylor Swift’s “Out of the Woods” and Adele’s “Hello”, went viral. Last year, he released his debut record, “Take Me Apart”, which received widespread acclaim and has garnered over half a million streams on Spotify. Through his band-centric indie-pop sound, Payson Lewis aims to inspire positivity and deliver an energetic blend of throwback nostalgia and modern edge, spreading good vibes to listeners worldwide.
“Revisiting this material and fusing it together in one flow, as originally intended, has helped me reconnect with who I was, even just a few short years ago: a person who simultaneously feels like my long-lost best friend, and also a complete and utter stranger,” explains Payson Lewis. “I’ve learned a lot over these years, and I owe a lot of that growth and knowledge to these songs and the process of creating them.”
Stream “retrospection (19:30)” by Payson Lewis on Spotify here:
Enlisting Ben Soldate to produce the EP, “retrospection (19:30)” is an interesting collection of tracks that really manages to allow Payson Lewis to showcase his growth, his versatility, and how far he has come – it’s an inspiring collection that is unique but exciting. The EP starts off with “Making Trouble”, introducing us to his indie-rock aesthetic, bringing in a sharp riff and launching an addictive backing beat whilst delivering his rock-pop vocals that combine well with the rhythm of the track. What this track effortlessly showcases is his songwriting ability as the lyrics are captivating and Payson Lewis makes sure you’re singing along by the end, making trouble by implanting this track in our heads. The song is followed by “Back in Time” which features his ex-girlfriend, actress and singer, Leah Lewis, and was recorded in 2021 but the single was released this year, with both artists on good terms with each other when this was released. The track is a heartbreak song that is fully stripped back, allowing both Payson Lewis and Leah Lewis to completely shine with their vocals, complimenting each other effortlessly. They manage to impress the listener as the song goes on, with their incredible harmonies, which only makes this track even more compelling. The chorus floods in with a pop-rock sound, wrapping their voices together, full of power.
The third track on the EP is “Hotel Suite”, which adds a bass funk style to his indie-rock that makes this stand out for all the right reasons. He impresses with vocal runs and strong emotional vocals as he invites us to his hotel suite and be who we want to be – rhythmic and tuneful, it reminds us of something Nick Jonas would release. “Nothing to You” is next, which is an addictive stripped-back indie-rock track that has an experimental feel to it, allowing Payson Lewis to take the spotlight with his awesome vocals. The fifth track is “Only Yesterday”, which is incredibly emotional, lyrically, as Payson Lewis reflects on his past and how much he loved someone and how it’s not easy to get over it and start again – the rhythmic indie-pop-rock sound effortlessly allows the listener to follow Payson Lewis on this journey in this song. The EP ends with “In Your Heart”, which is a huge statement piece, stripping the entire backing track away and leaving him with just a guitar, as he strums out his self-reflection feelings and realising that he can’t go on in this relationship and that it’s not working, no matter how much they try – it’s a heartbreaking track that is hugely relatable to many, and really puts closure on this chapter of his life. What a way to end this EP “retrospection (19:30)” and we’re excited to see what Payson Lewis has in store for his forthcoming era.
Stream “In Your Heart”, which is our favourite track from the EP, on Spotify here:
“retrospection (19:30)”, by Payson Lewis, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via 8 Feet Tall. Look out for his forthcoming music which sees him enter a whole new era.