Marley Hale - By My Own Ways EP (2024) Hi-Res

The songs on this debut touch on heavy themes. They cruise through self-loathing, self-acceptance & heartbreak with detours into avoidance & shame to an all-consuming longing. Not your average easy listening experience but…Marley Hale’s engaging. The Texas native grew up in California, moved back to Texas, then touched down in New York City. Specifically, Brooklyn. An adventure.

Listening to these tunes should be compelling. Produced by Dylan McKinstry (bass on “Good Man”) & Marley Hale (lead vocals) the 5 original songs on By My Own Ways (Independent/Drops July 26) were recorded at the Greenpoint Recording Collective in Brooklyn, NY. The set isn’t, despite the song topics, a downer. Marley Hale explores feelings that are challenged & navigates a fairly cool resolution through her work.

Marley has lots of sonic sweetening in the mix on “To Those At My Window” but it’s ear-candy since Marley accentuates her lyrics with expertise, adds the angst where needed & her vocals fancifully framed with fiddle sawing & snare brush swishing through her essential sweetness. But don’t be fooled. This artist adds some vinegar to her performance.

“Drunk On You” while drenched in echo vocal treatments could’ve been a drawback. However, Marley successfully comes off like an authentic tough ‘50s Patsy Cline-tinted vocalist with a wonderful mixture of country colorful lyrics. There’s a vintage saloon, sawdust & beer aroma drift between the notes — perfect jukebox fodder. A bit of k.d Lang from her absolute torch & twang era seeps through & her words reach deep into places where many fear to go…but not Ms. Hale.

The musicianship is incisive even when Hale falls into an easy listening-torch singer mode with “Dear Girl.” Still in a late 50s groove – ala Julie London her voice is pristine, the Spanish horns swirl around her like the drizzle of chocolate on a sundae. No matter what’s added to the performance it never loses the country azure, its credibility & Marley’s imagination.

“On Your Knees,” continues with the echo treatment on Marley’s fine voice. Perhaps later that can be alleviated to allow Ms. Hale’s voice to resonate & encapsulate her suave k.d. Lang pipes. This song showcases her genuine rich vocal projectability quite well. A dynamic that provides listeners with a smooth vocal ride. This is quite an accomplishment. Perhaps too short. But her material has authority, it’s well-conceived & Marley’s entertaining.