When you listen to a song about long distance love, there tends to be an underlying layer of sadness and loneliness in the lyrics. It’s true that distance is not for the faint of heart, but indie folk singer/songwriter Jacob Weil celebrates the excitement and anticipation of hearing from a long distance lover in his new song “Letters from Away”.
Comprised of bright percussion, a beachy acoustic and soft electric guitar, and some watery keys, this organic arrangement is a true breath of fresh summer air. Weil’s voice sits in a rich baritone range and is strikingly expressive- a perfect fit for the song’s pure and honest lyrics. There’s a sense of whimsy in the rhythm that’s difficult to describe— it almost feels like a gust of seaside breeze as you stand on the shore with the summer sun beating down on your face. It’s somewhere on the wide spectrum between Jack Johnson and the quirky storytelling of Ben Gibbard. As the song progresses, notably at the key change towards the end, it’s just bursting at the seams with love and joy. This is truly what being in love is supposed to feel like.
As its name suggests, many messages were sent back and forth between Weil and his love. These lyrics are inspired by those specific interactions— between text messages, letters, and notes app ramblings— it tells the story of their relationship through the means they actually experienced it themselves.
I try not to insert myself into my reviews, but I can’t help it with this one. I’m currently in a long distance relationship and have been for over two years. Hearing a love like mine described with joy and bliss rather than loneliness and defeat made me smile from ear to ear, and the way Weil captures the wholesome buzz you get when you finally get to talk to your love is so true to the real thing.
Jacob Weil is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist based out of Vancouver, where he settled after rediscovering his love for writing while on the road with folk act Sam Weber. Weil is a virtuoso in creating a mood and telling a captivating story to go along with it. His fans love him for the way he inspires nostalgia and encourages us to back in time to our past for just a moment.
Written by jess Ward