Jack Rowberry was awarded Best Acoustic Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards last month and he is straight back on the scene with a new EP. Watching the Sun is a developed and more refined sound of his previous EP, which shows that his influences play an even bigger part in his musicianship.
The EP begins with ‘The Way It Goes’. Starting off with a slow, improvised jam, the song escalates into a soulful John Mayer-esque track accompanied with backing vocals from the delightful Natalia Piersa.
‘Two Strangers’ witnesses the strength in Rowberry’s songwriting. The song is about two strangers who get together; a simple concept for a song. The way that he manages to draw this story out is admirable. Besides that, the guitar work is exemplary with his influences practically engraved in his work.
The final song of the EP, ‘Learn to Fly’, is reminiscent of Dire Straits because of his guitar work that is comparable to Mark Knopfler. (Can you really compare anyone to the wonderful Knopfler? Ed.) If the guitar tone is a little repetitive when it gets to ‘Learn to Fly’, it is certain that his guitar skills are profound.
Jack Rowberry is playing Edinburgh’s Electric Circus on Saturday 24 May. Tickets can be purchased here.
Freelance and student journalist currently educated at Edinburgh Napier University.
