Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Wide Awake

Provogue Records [Release date 04.06.21]

The 21-year-old Massachusetts singer-songwriter Quinn Sullivan has been touring the world since he was 11-years-old! Appearing at venues such as Madison Square Garden, the Hollywood Bowl and RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., as well as Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, and three Montreux Jazz Festivals.

The new album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer/collaborator Oliver Leiber (worked has with artists such as Adam Lambert, Paula Abdul, The Corrs and more).

Opener and lead single from this album, ‘All Around The World’, sees Quinn Sullivan set his musical stall out, being a sassy blues number featuring a sublime guitar from him. Despite his young age, Sullivan has a soothing, soulful vocal typified on the laid back ‘How Many Tears’. If his singing wasn’t enough to make this song special, he lays down another tasteful solo.

‘Strawberry Rain’ allows his let loose his funkier side. The song is underpinned by a funky beat and then there is the gloriously summery pop rock chorus. ‘Jessica’ has an AOR appeal, reminding the listener of say Mr Big in ballad mode or Rick Springfield.

‘She’s Gone (& She Ain’t Coming Back)’ and ‘Baby Please’ both have that neat blues, pop and soul mix that could easily provide him with mainstream radio airplay and the all-important streaming services playlists.

“Obviously, as you get older you learn and experience more,” Sullivan says. “Throughout the years, I’ve gotten to learn and work with so many amazing, accomplished musicians and people in the music industry and that has shaped me into who I am today.”

Like Robert Cray and Colin James, Quinn Sullivan uses the blues as his starting point before going whereever his musical muse takes him, be it a soulful touch, pop or a nifty bit of blues playing. ‘Wide Awake’ is set to be the album to give Sullivan his crossover into a wider audience outside of the blues scene. Impressive to say the least. The soundtrack to your summer starts here… ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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