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To encapsulate a memory in song is more than a simple recall; it is a cocooning of the personal experience that, if nurtured correctly, develops into a universal feeling. Kevin Atwater has mastered the art of this metamorphosis in his new single “Ferry Beer,” which, through gentle strums of acoustic strings, transports us to a vibrant moment in time.

Atwater’s sustained notes pierce through consciousness to let lyrics seep into our skin as they provide vivid imagery—the sea, a perspiring glass, would-be lovers, in another life perhaps—that in this nostalgic composition becomes any memory for anyone who has ever felt sad. As the song swells and Atwater lets the falsettos fly, we feel the longing, the quiet desperation, and the acceptance of something that went left instead of going right, and there lies that universal feeling.

This sneak peek of alternative folk music, minimally composed for its simple effect, with an elegant guitar, piano, and vocals formula, has an impact so heartfelt that it makes Atwater’s upcoming songs brim with endless possibilities of sound and emotion. If this is the tip of the iceberg, one can only imagine all of the explorations that this emerging artist will have in store this year and beyond.

The music video for the song, a touching love story encased in the aquatic themes of the track, adds to the imagery with its depictions of familiar moments: laying back, listening to music, a subtle shared smile, and an unexpected separation—all of it a reminder that, regardless of outcomes, in the presence of a loved one, for a moment, nothing else matters but that happiness.

Atwater, a New York City resident, is a classically trained musician whose compositions speak fearlessly of who he is and what he sees and feels, and “Ferry Beer” is a shining example. The new single is the beginning of a new project for Atwater, in collaboration with executive producer Hazey Eyes (Suki Waterhouse, Jeremy Zucker) and with mixing from Philip Weinrobe (Adrianne Lenker, Searows).

The single comes on the heels of announced sold-out headline shows, the first of many at Los Angeles’ Moroccan Lounge on Oct 1, and serves as a larger introduction to a talent that has a clear story to tell. With a desire to communicate vividly through hauntingly familiar sounds, Atwater is blazing a path that is connecting with audiences, and all the aforementioned is evidence enough.

Watch the “Ferry Beer” video below: