Derby Hill is a great vocalist and songwriter from Detroit who just gave us a new album. This project, which is named for itself, is highly intimate and touching.His songs are about everyday things, like old neighborhoods and relaxing on a porch swing. He writes on the big things that make us human, like family, love, losing things, and figuring out how to put things right again. He shows us the “rough and the shiny” elements of life by talking about these things. His songs remind us that loving people no matter what is a strong tool when things get tough.
Looking at his background, it is easy to see that Derby Hill cares most about telling true stories. He listens to famous songwriters like Steve Earle and Leonard Cohen, and you can hear that influence in how he writes about surviving and staying hopeful. This new album is special because it wasn’t made in a fancy, expensive studio. Instead, he recorded it in simple places like basements and hall closets in Chicago. Because it was made this way, the music has a very warm and real feeling that makes you feel like you are right there in the room with him.
“Neo-sincerity” is the core premise of the whole album. It’s just a fancy way of saying that he is being absolutely honest. Derby Hill decides to be completely transparent in a world where individuals typically suppress their true feelings or pretend like they don’t care. He doesn’t strive to make life look like a movie; he just shows us how strong people can be. He informs us that we are not alone even when life is hard and heavy, as long as we are brave enough to be honest about how we feel.
Derby Hill
The music starts with a song titled “Restless and Forgiven.” This song feels like a deep breath after a long day. The pleasant sound of his acoustic guitar will let you relax and forget about your problems. When you’re frightened, you can hear a continuous, thumping beat in the background that sounds like your heart pumping fast. But as the song goes on, more voices join in, and it starts to feel like a giant, warm hug. You finally stop feeling horrible about the past and start to feel light and serene again.
Then we hear a song titled “Red Honey Wine” that makes us feel like we’re sitting on a porch as the sun goes down. Derby Hill sings gently in this song about being patient and waiting for good things to happen. He shows us that loyalty isn’t about making a big deal out of things; it’s about being there for someone every day, even when things aren’t perfect. The soft guitar music makes you feel comfortable and loved. It reminds us how nice it is to be recognized by someone who loves us even with all our shortcomings.
“Come Back Home” makes the mood change a little bit. There are high, sliding sounds in this song that sound like an old screen door opening in the rain. This sound makes you feel sad and happy at the same time, like you’re finally heading back to a place where you belong. The music here is a little faster, but it still feels warm and welcoming. It’s a song about repairing relationships and getting back to the people you love after being away for a long time.
Then we listen to “Anything’s Possible Here,” a song about how we recall the past. It sounds like a dialog between who you used to be and who you are now because two people sing together. This song tells us that we can always start afresh, even when things break and our lives change. It is a quiet, strong reminder that we may still believe in great things even while we are just going about our daily lives.
Derby Hill
“In a Matter of Moments” is the last song on the album. It’s quite peaceful. It seems like traveling across the desert at night when there is no noise. Derby Hill sings extremely slowly and thoughtfully about how quickly time flies by and how we might suddenly understand life in a second. The music sounds a little melancholy but lovely, and it sticks in your head long after the song is complete. It sounds like a radio transmission slowly fading into the dark, which makes you feel calm and at ease.
The album helps us remember how these songs fit into our lives. We all have nights when we can’t sleep or days when we simply want to go home. Derby Hill’s writing on these times teaches us that our daily jobs and problems aren’t just boring—they’re where we prove how powerful we are. He tells us that love is the only thing that can help us get through a long day at work or a terrible time with our families.
You should listen to this album from start to finish in a peaceful environment to get the most out of it. This is a great first album that talks about life now while yet respecting old-school music. Derby Hill has taught us that you don’t have to yell to be heard. The voices that are the quietest and most honest are sometimes the ones that stick with us the longest. This album is a great example of why music that comes from the heart is still the best sort of music.
For more songs like this, follow Derby Hill on Spotify
