Johnny Cattini has a flair for penning melodies that are as delectable as they are infectious. The Boston based singer-songwriter might just be getting started, but he’s already accrued a decent following and a deep dive of tracks to delve into. Having graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2018, it’s clear that Cattini’s natural talent isn’t just some god given gift, although that might certainly play a part. It’s the result of work, a measured honing of his craft, and a passion for the folk genre at large. On the short but sweet Yellow Moon EP, Cattini manages to make three songs that sound straight out of a modern day popstars catalogue.
Yellow Moon is folk pop of the highest standard. Inspired by the genre’s heyday in the 1960s, Cattini has attempted rather successfully to create sounds that are stripped back, honest, and true to the roots. Simultaneously though, the melodies and jingles that he’s come up with are wonderfully modern.
At its core, the EP focuses on a larger canopy theme of loneliness with subtleties under it as the branches . The titular track, ‘Yellow Moon’, is about the world around you, the wonders that nature bestows on us. Here, Cattini leans on these wonders to relieve his loneliness, an effort to feel as though he’s part of something larger than his own journey. It’s characterised by an almost indie pop performance by Cattini, but carried by a magnificent progression that leads up to an irresistible chorus. “Here it comes that lonely feeling, my girl woke in another mans bed again. Me and the Yellow Moon, with just enough light to make it through.” It makes you want to believe in a better world on your worst day.
That romantic side to loneliness prevails on the other two pieces on the EP. “You Only Call Me When You’re Lonely” , intuitively with a similar but more melancholic theme as ‘Why’d You Only Call me When You’re High’, is also about feeling taken for granted in a relationship. “Sleeping Alone” is the next stage, coming to terms and finding gratitude and grace after a breakup. Simple themes? Perhaps. But the nuance, harmony, and poise that Cattini brings takes it to another level.
‘Yellow Moon’ is just a pleasurable EP that suits any mood, any weather, and any moment. It’s ubiquitously enjoyable in the best sense. If you even have a fleeting interest in folk music, you’d adore this EP. But, even if you just have affection for pop music, Cattini’s masterfully composed tracks are bound to excite. Check it out!
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