PRYOR BAIRD

                                                              "You Are To Me" 

                                                               Black River Entertainment

California native Pryor Baird earned national recognition as a member of Team Blake during season 14 of NBC’s The Voice, while then continuing to work on his craft and hone his songwriting skills when the show ended as part of the duo Pryor & Lee with fellow alum, Kaleb Lee.

Late last year, though, Baird made buzzworthy industry headlines when he inked a recording deal with Black River Entertainment, heightening the anticipation for what would be the next chapter in his career trajectory. 

Now with the release of his debut solo single, “You Are To Me,” he gives us our first look at what to expect from his brand of soulfully infused country.

The song, written by Nate Smith, Trannie Anderson, and Jonathan Smith, grips a slow waltz like groove that keeps you tapping a toe and snapping along in rhythm as Pryor floats his voice atop the melody through the opening verse, praising how his better half makes him weak in the knees whenever she walks in the room, how her eyes are like diamonds shining on top the sea, and how all the little things about her make his heart skip a beat.

With the hit of the chorus, Baird continues holding tight to that praising aspect while reassuringly singing:

“You’re the wind in my sails

The rain on a field

The very air that I breathe

Don’t want to spend my life always trying to find a way that I can be

Half of who, baby, you are to me”

Piggybacking off the sentiment of the chorus, he continues with praise filled reassurance as the song progress and he lovingly shares that she’s the answer to his prayers while thanking God for giving him the chance to “know the best part of living.”

Tilting his voice into the perfect rasps at all the right moments injects this song with that from deep within feeling to uphold the heartfelt lyrics, while the outro sees him punching the soul of his voice to the forefront as crisp guitar licks solidify the melody.

Though a lyrical theme of this nature isn’t necessarily new to country music, what Baird absolutely accomplishes is that he gives the listener a fine introduction to all his unique qualities in one three-minute package. He’s soulful, he’s heartfelt, he’s raspy, and he knows exactly how to use his voice in all the right ways to strike the emotional heart tug of a lyric. Most importantly, though, he rose up and grabbed hold of the buzz to leave you anticipating what’s next.

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)

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