"Don't Leave Me" is the debut album for Indianapolis duo Șale Joseph. This raw, yet beautiful record is a short look into the first 5 years of the career of Alexander Camp and Logan Dodd. Acommpanied by Nashville players: Andrew Camp (Electric Guitar), Bradford Dobbs (Drums and Percussion), Cliff Kimmerling (Bass), and Cameron Pessarra (Keys), this live recording made in the heart of Indianapolis is one that tells stories of self exploration through pop music rooted in americana sounds.
The album begins with a roar of guitar, drums, organ and bass in the opening track "Can I Tell Ya Something." As the song continues you are introduced to the vocals of Alexander Camp as he tells a familiar story of past lovers who have come in and out of his life. He is joined by his partner Logan Dodd in the chorus as they both sing out the tunes infectious chorus in their trademark harmonies, which ends in a tongue in cheek statement that Camp will 'never fall in love again,' though he continues to find new pitfalls.
The second track, 'Wait then Run' is a continuation of the albums first track. The narrator, Dodd, tells a story of self exploration as the search for a companion leads her on a path in finding her own personal peace and freedom. The uptempo, alt-country tune is a constant reminder that only one's self is in control of their destiny, and sometimes escaping your past is the only way to find your future.
The album's title track "Don't Leave Me" is the first song by the duo, and very special to their hearts. Written in their hometown of Anderson, Indiana alongside friends Joel Levi and Dan Delaney, this melancholy tune showcases the heart and soul of the duo as well as any song they have written since. At the core, this tune incapsulates the entire album by sharing a story of regret, forgiveness, and finding personal strength. The lyrics pull no punches, while the singers also lay it all out on the line.
The fourth track, "Rust," is an acoustic number written by Camp in his early days as a solo song-writer. The song was a simple, and haunting tale of a relationship gone wrong, and how sometimes the things we keep nearest to us, are the things that slowly deteriorate our hopes and beliefs.The tune truly took shape one fall night in Camp's backyard, in the early days of their career. Dodd sang the song in her beautiful soprano voice, and it added a beauty and color that the song had always been missing. It remains one of the duos favorite moments, and is always a special to them while performing.
"Lonely Boy" is the fifth track on the album, and is where we find the band at its dirtiest. The duo takes full advantage of their amazing backing band, as this groovy rock track changes the pace of the record. Big reverb guitars and a catchy pop chorus make this song a live favorite, while the lyrics, delivered boldly by Dodd, almost offer a country thought to the ones previously sung on in "Rust."
The final song "Make It Home" is a simple song, that bookends the album with a tale of those who continue to pass through the life of the narrator. This song is a final plea to the album's antagonist, as Camp spells out past stories that led him to a certain breaking point in a relationship.
Mixed by: Kelson Camp
Mastered by: Alex Dobbert
Recorded live at Azmyth Recording Stuido.
credits
released March 25, 2016
All Songs Written By: Alexander Camp and Logan Dodd
Alexander Camp: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Logan Dodd: Vocals
Andrew Camp: Electric Guitar
Bradford Dobbs: Drums and Percussion
Cliff Kimmerling: Bass
Cameron Pessarra: Keys
Recorded live at Azmyth Recording Studios
Mixed by: Kelson Camp
Mastered by: Alex Dobbert
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