“You Gotta Know” sounds like it’s on a mission. It is, but in an important way. Collaborations, the solo project from Ed Daniels, has created something with depth and meaning. In a world of overproduced pop soundtracks that homogenize and rob music of individualism and heart, there’s a realness about the song that we should all appreciate. The sound, style, and musicianship here pay homage to an era that was stripped down and direct in both production and message. The sound of “You Gotta Know” has been influenced by some of the great songwriters and record makers of the 60s and 70s, like Carole King and America. The track itself opens the door to a classic sound without becoming retro. The song has heart, and an important message at its core. Stand up, question the world around you and then act.
“You Gotta Know” opens with the unmistakable sound of live instruments breathing from the speakers. The voice of Anais Preller is a beautifully pure and direct presence, the tone and phrasing speaking with an eloquence and passion that is supported by a talented collection of musicians. Grammy winner Scott Spray plays bass, while guitar is by Tim Dehuff, and drums by Tom Naggy. Background vocals by Kevin Monroe and Devotion add layers and dimension to the chorus. The vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards and drums are great on their own, but put together by producer Vic Steffens and orchestrated by Matt Oestreicher they sound as complete as they do clean. Every part is given room to breathe. It’s expert production that works to let the players shine, but does not overshadow the musicianship itself.
The most important element to the sound and message of “You Gotta Know”, is what the song stands for. A song with such heart has a purpose. The intention behind the song came from Ed Daniels, and was a starting point. After passing through the creative direction of Anais and Matt to refine the song, more and more artists came to the studio and added their own layers of inspiration. It’s this dedication from everyone that makes the song sound the way it does. Honest, real, and without any digital filters. It’s one of those things you either do, or don’t do. This was not recorded with plug-ins and auto-tune, but rather with a collection of artists, each of whom put a bit of their heart into the song, making a mission statement that still, at the end of the day, just sounds like a great song.
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