“Big Screen” is a powerhouse new single from Southern California based writer, producer, and performer Michael Capshaw, aka Cap, and continues his construction of a dramatic and driven musical discography among the best in the genre today. Much of his appeal lies in his confidence. It elevates otherwise solid material, recognizable to any fan of the style, to something intensely personal for Cap and the listener alike.
The production talents of Cap give “Big Screen” the sort of vivid sheen you’d expect from major label big budget production without any of the glossy theatrics that ring false on lesser recordings. Cap sounds entertaining, authentic, and invested in every word and note of the song. Moreover, he sounds like a performer possessed with the gravitas and skill to win listeners, both old and newcomers, over from the outset.
There’s something about this performance that speaks to the passion sustaining Cap’s dreams from the start. I believe that hardcore music fans, people who feel music to the marrow of their being, are capable of hearing that same quality in performers – it comes through in the fluid way each passage links up and the easy glide of his voice as well the contributions from others. Using female backing singers for the track, particularly beginning the song with them, is an unusual move but it works extremely well. They do an excellent job of introducing the song’s central theme before Cap enters the song.
He brings equal parts nuance and style to his vocal work and veers between straight singing, impressively conveyed, and his hip-hop flow. He sounds completely confident in both modes and, though the song favors straight singing, the hip-hop additions give it a little extra energy and swagger. The song is largely dominated by vocals, but never in a way that waters down or upsets the balance of the audience’s experience.
The production Of Cap Will Catch Your Attention
It’s an entertaining number musically, led by attention-grabbing vocal performers, but it also has real lyric substance without ever biting off more than it can chew. It’s instances like this where Cap’s mastery of fundamentals becomes even clearer – these are words designed to serve the backing track and his voice, first and foremost, but he’s likewise talented enough to make sure he has intelligent material to deliver and it’s a longtime virtue of his career continuing here unabated. There’s little question, based on this single release, that Cap’s upcoming release Scorpio will continue in the impressive tradition established by his preceding releases.
“Big Screen” has something for everyone and a palpable soul music styled slant that will increase both the song and Cap’s appeal for many potential listeners. This Southern California born and bred recording artist is just hitting his stride in a lot of ways and will only continue to get better from here. “Big Screen” is easily one of 2018’s best new singles thus far and certainly the equal or better than anything else he’s released thus far.
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-review by Shannon Cowden
