REVIEW: 'Something Human' by Tyrone Sanborn Webster
It’s a frigid late January night in Brooklyn, very few cars or humans out on the street, and I am inside listening to this new Tyrone Sanborn Webster EP,' Something Human'.
I recall speaking to a musician friend of mine in Florida in the early 2000s, and I asked him what he thought about Sufjan Stevens' singing voice. My friend replied, "it is like a dew just before sunrise; his point of vulnerability, and that's precisely why I love it." The sincerity in Tyrone Sanborn Webster's singing voice reminded me of this memory today.
Originally from Portland, Oregon and following time in rural western Minnesota, Webster made his way to Austin, Texas, where he played drums in several bands, including art-rock band Desilu. Since 2019, he began releasing solo work, starting with the demo "Change Your Mind". This track's evocative and straightforward melody reminded me of when I first heard the song "Lovestain" by Jose Gonzalez while sitting in a cafe in London on a cold rainy day. The type of moment when a record leaves a lasting impression on you.
While listening to Webster's releases from 2019, I also came across the track "Out in the World", which creates a beautifully haunting sense of space during the verses. This coupling of songwriter intimacy with ambient composition is what excites me the most about this artist.
'Something Human' came into fruition following the end of Webster's own stay at home order during the pandemic. As he returned to work and began experiencing human interaction again, the EP quickly began to take shape. The first title track offers ambiance and pulse along with a sense of awakening - an awakening not necessarily to better times, but a state where we might find ourselves questioning and reevaluating what it means to be human.
On this EP, we see an extension of Webster's talents to an electronic palette of instrumentation, which juxtaposes sadness with a danceable optimism. The subtle optimism amongst a melancholy tone is undoubtedly something we can all relate to at the moment, as we continue into this new year recalibrating our feelings along with our ability to interact with others. As Webster sings on the title track, "I want, I need your endless drive-in / Connecting with something human." I am struck by the attention to detail in these songs' arrangement and am confident that the uniqueness in melody, harmony, and ambiance will keep you coming back for repeat listens.
Written by Shane Hagan