It is 7.30 am on a Sunday and I am doing a review – how is that for dedication? I have actually been up since six, the consequence of having a little one who is teething and waking you up at that ungodly hour. So wide awake as I am and not bothered about returning to bed, I’m reviewing “Better Believe it Baby” from an artist I have only now come across. However, doing a bit of homework from the entertaining press pack – Here’s what I know about this artist!
Hailing from Liverpool with roots in Serbia, NEVEN brings raw emotion and fiery energy to the world of blues rock. A lifelong love for music ignited at the age of 8, when a worn-out Eric Clapton tape became the spark that led to mastering both the guitar and drums.
Growing up in a home rich with soulful sounds, thanks to a blues-playing uncle and a mother immersed in soul classics, NEVEN developed a deep appreciation for music that speaks to the heart.
The words NEVEN connect to are nostalgia and innovation, so let’s have a listen and see!
My review:
“Better Believe it Baby” – I do the blues side of life here and this track leads off with a grungy blues sound, plenty of riff in the mix for this one. Vocally emotive, NEVEN is “gonna make it rain.” He clearly knows his way round a guitar and there is a strong drum sound in there too for this one. If you like a modern twist on that darker side of the blues then you’d like this.
I had a browse through his Spotify and discovered this one as well that I liked –
“Lit” – is a bit different, it has more of a Summer feel to it, could see it played on a beach. The guitar does its work for this one and there is a nice sense of rhythm and melody built in as well as a chorus that uplifts. Again, a decent mid-section guitar riff and vocal performance.
So, while the rest of the world was still snoozing through their Sunday morning, I found myself nodding along to NEVEN’s riffs and realizing that this guy is worth keeping an eye on. If “Better Believe It Baby” is the blues in its leather jacket and “Lit” is the same sound on holiday, then NEVEN is an artist with range — and soul. Not a bad reward for a 7:30 a.m. review session fueled by coffee and teething-induced insomnia!
You can stream music by NEVEN here
By Stevie Ritson