Watchtower is the latest single from London-based singer-songwriter Charlie Freeman known as Free/Man. The song is an acoustic rock ballad, with a lot of 90s and early 2000s influence that I’m a total sucker for. I found myself closing my eyes and diving deep into the stories told by Charlie’s enchanting voice.
The song begins with a chord progression and a harmonica that puts you in a beautiful countryside setting and Charlie’s soft vocals follow shortly after. He’s one of those singers who are so grandiose by being subtle. None of the notes are overdone, his breath support while singing long sentences is unmatched, and most important of all, he makes it sound effortless. His tone is gritty and grounded and the way he enunciates is so elegant.
The song has a pretty straightforward structure with soft verses and big hooks. And I loved that they had a small guitar bit before the bridge that sounded like an acoustic solo- True to the genre, but also very rock n roll-ish. The song closes in a beautiful way that doesn’t interrupt the continuity of the chord progressions and how they flow into one another.
All in all, this is a song that sounds like heartbreak and a lost love in the countryside. It’s got some of the most beautiful vibes from Country, Americana, Blues on one side and Singer-songwriter rock n roll on the other. One of the year’s best finds for me. Check out Charlie Freeman on all streaming platforms now.
