Shannon Smith's "Valentine’s Day" is not just a song; it's a journey through the perilous yet ultimately redeeming path of love. Against the backdrop of a houseboat in Augusta, Smith penned a confessional ode to his partner, Helen Townsend, weaving a tapestry of regret, truth, and undying affection. 

The single, infused with the Americana spirit, blooms with the gospel-tinged harmonies of the McCrary Sisters, whose accolades include backing for the "Elvis" movie soundtrack and Grammy nods, lending a rich, soulful layer to the track. The song's narrative arc—a lover's plea for forgiveness—is universal, yet Smith's raw delivery roots it deeply in personal soil.

The musical arrangement, a delicate interplay of Baby Grand Piano, Hammond organ, and the mournful wail of the pedal steel guitar, creates a soundscape that is sparse yet expansive, mirroring the vast emotional landscape Smith traverses. As the song builds, so does the intensity of Smith's plea, culminating in a climax that is as cathartic as it is heartfelt.

What sets "Valentine’s Day" apart is its authenticity. In an era where music often feels manufactured, Smith delivers a piece that is painstakingly crafted and emotionally charged. It's a ballad for those who have faced the darkness in love and dared to light a candle rather than curse the night.

As Valentine's Day approaches, Smith's single stands as a reminder that even the most fractured love can be whole again. And as the McCrary Sisters' voices rise like a gospel choir behind him, one can't help but feel that this song doesn't just aim for the charts—it aims for the heart.

The latest single from Shannon Smith, ‘I’m Gonna Change’, starts out with beats and a heartbroken guitar that are as arid as a desert. Following on from his debut single, ‘Dance The Night Away’, Smith’s sophomore release is one helluva a left turn. Having given us the hit of summer ’23, ‘I’m Gonna Change’, is the sound of a man fearing the loss of love and abasing himself with promises of reform in an attempt to stave off the inevitable.

I am tryin’ / I am dyin’ / In myself / When I’ve done wrong, sings Smith to himself and, ultimately, to his partner. This is raw stuff that will catch a lot of people off guard, but just because Smith has turned from party pleaser to hound dog of love, ‘I’m Gonna Change’ still works very nicely, thank you.

This song is steeped in a tradition of folk rock that only really exists in Western Australia but, when it breaks through, has the capacity to sit alongside the world’s best. Think Cruel Guards era The Panics, a touch of The Waifs when they were trying to make it in London, and you’ll get a bit of an aural picture, but better just to have a listen for yourself. 

And, there’s something really neat Smith has done with his vocals on the line I’m gonna change, picking up the inflection of his partner in life and music, Fremantle/Walyalup Americana artist, Helen Townsend. Whether deliberate or not, the connection the delivery of that line makes between him and the woman he’s so desperately trying to win back is uncanny.

‘I’m Gonna Change’ is a surefooted shift in focus for Shannon Smith, one that really powers home in the final bars. I’m just not sure if I believe him. I guess future releases may tell the story.