Steve Balsamo — Don’t Feel Like Love

The steady stream of new music over 2020 and 2021 has been immensely welcome during the global pandemic as more people are isolated, shielding, working from home or classed as key workers.

Singer-songwriter and musician Steve Balsamo has released his brand new single entitled ‘Don’t Feel Like Love’ which was penned by himself and his friends Andy Collins and Gareth Lewis. The track’s production was by Miles Myerscough-Harris (music producer at Under The Apple Tree and the son of respected radio broadcaster Bob Harris) and Tim Hamill was on mixing duties as well as keyboards.  

(On a side note, an entertaining lyric video for the single was created by Drew Hamley at Unit 15 Productions and it is definitely worth a watch).

Lewis’ acoustic guitar introduction is very Americana in tone and sounds like a nod to the Tom Petty classic ‘Runnin’ Down A Dream’ as Balsamo softly sings “Same old story, same gameshow smile. Same old Oz sold us up the Nile” as the ideas of fairy tales and works of non-fiction blur together with real life.

Although the song might not reference it directly, it highlights the fact that many people in the creative industries are not eligible for governmental financial support and therefore, ‘fall through the cracks’ during these difficult times.

The rhythm section consisting of Andy Collins on bass and Gavin Griffiths keep the driving beat alongside the rich keyboards from the aforementioned Hammill and multi-instrumentalist Alan Thomas who along with Collins and Balsamo was in the Swansea-based band The Storys who toured the world as the support for acts including Sir Elton John and Katie Melua amongst others.

All of the individuals involved have real music chemistry as Balsamo’s textured lead vocal is complimented by the backing vocals from Kirstie Roberts and Lorraine King. The cheeky lyrics such as “Politics is showbiz for ugly people”, put a smile on this writer’s face and will allow it to potentially connect to a majority of the public.

In conclusion, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Love’ is essentially a modern protest song for 2021 just as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s ‘Ohio’ was when it was released in 1971. Yes, the specific reasons for protest may be slightly different but the sentiment and the need for protest remain the same. The musicianship and production are of a high standard and it has the potential to become the anthem for those who are currently disenfranchised and unconvinced about the current political climate.

The video for Steve Balsamo’s ‘Don’t Feel Like Love’ is out now and the track is taken from his forthcoming third EP. For more information visit www.stevebalsamomusic.com