Hailing from Perth, Mo Sheryar describes himself as an “independent artist writing late-night songs about lovers, drifters and lost souls living somewhere between dreams and despair” – and Highway Gambler certainly appears to capture his quintessential creative voice.

This track tells of a drifter’s introspective and unrelenting musings, submitted to us with the following caption: “An ode to the part of me that keeps moving.” Sheryar’s profile appears to be that of a wanderer himself – hopping between hemispheres, hailing down highways, moving from hotel room to hotel room… There are certainly parallels to be drawn here. I was also particularly captivated by the rawness that underpins every note and lyric upon my first listen, no doubt set by Sheryar’s hand.

When I first hit play, the slick guitar intro was nothing short of head-bopping right off the bat. We open with a shuffle groove flawlessly executed via a punchy, muted bassline, clean and sharp short strums, and tambourine hits for that oomph.

I was reading Sheryar’s provided description of Highway Gambler – “a portrait of movement, hunger, unrest, and contradiction” – when the vocals made their entrance. It’s truly apt; the stripped-down instrumentation and dusky vocals especially enhance the piece’s unabashed expression, with all its grit and naked exposure. An intense edge that refuses to compromise on soul.

It’s almost hard to believe, yet perfectly fitting, that every part has been “played and captured in bedrooms, living rooms, and borrowed spaces.” To give further credit, although the instrumentation barely expands beyond the addition of a shaker, the rhythm section is incredibly well-utilized to keep a dynamic feel throughout the runtime. For instance, the way the bass subtly plays with note length and articulation is astonishingly effective at building and releasing tension, while the guitar hits alter a little every time and never fail to hit the spot. The musical arrangement is simple but sophisticated.  The technical proficiency on display, both practical and compositional, is unassuming but no less impressive – this is idiomacy at its fullest potential.

That said, this exposed simplicity makes it glaring that the melody doesn’t evolve or develop over the runtime. The verses also repeat the same melodic motif throughout in tandem with lyrics that, while purposefully metaphorical, are invariably so. Altogether, they point toward an underlying structural aimlessness. Even if the instrumentation meticulously builds toward a new section, the overlaid melody that’s been on loop for a significant amount of time is that all that hogs a listener’s attention. Without salient vocals to set a dynamic picture, the work of the background instruments goes underappreciated and overlooked.

If I could propose some practical suggestions: firstly, a little improvisation on the skeletal melody wouldn’t be uncalled for, whether we play around with pitch or rhythm. Some progression in the vocal range or tessitura employed would also be a foolproof signpost of structural advancement. Additionally, the empty bars during the chorus, while anticipatory in the track’s early minutes, practically scream for some counterpoint by the halfway point.

To be clear, though, the melody is a well-constructed one. After my very first listen, I was able to recall all its motifs with ease. Highway Gambler may be simple, but it’s memorable and more importantly, melodious. Regrettably, it is precisely this distinctiveness that makes saturation dangerous. Regardless, such a well-constructed melody is fertile ground for variation.

I’ll round this off with a final commendation of the song’s conclusion: the way the vocals subtly wilt toward the end, alongside the instrumentation slowly reining itself in as we fade to black, really did, for me, conjure the image of a wandering vagrant – hopping from town to town, belting his lament as he treads ever onward. Truly, an evocative work.

Sheryar’s creative voice rings uncompromisingly in this work, and his creative vision shines all the more saliently by how he’s able to accomplish so much with so little. I’m seated for whatever he releases next, and I hope I’ve transferred a little of my enthusiasm over to you!

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You can keep an eye out for him over on Instagram or Spotify!

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