Grace Cummings Sets Her Sights on the Endless Horizon in "Common Man"
Photo: Tajette O'Halloran
Meet Grace Cummings, a rising star with a voice made of golden honey that will stop you in your tracks. The Australian singer-songwriter is here to leave her mark, and in her newest single “Common Man” she does just that. The track is an anthem for anyone running from the mundane, a firm reminder that there's a bit of cowboy in all of us. “Common Man” is the second taste of her upcoming album, Ramona, out in April and recorded in the classic western oasis of Topanga Canyon. With a fitting title inspired by Bob Dylan’s “To Ramona,” Cummings is an artist who feels plucked from the past due to her strikingly beautiful voice and uniquely vintage sound.
“Common Man” is rare in its evergreen nature, sounding like it could’ve been written 50 years ago but still achieving modern relatability in its lyrics. Appropriately infused with the breezy sounds of blues and Western genres, Cummings sings about being a cowboy in a world of common men. It’s a compelling reminder that you don’t have to settle for a boring life and even if you’re not a literal cowboy, you can still ride off into the sunset. As she sings in her mesmerizing vocal enchantment, she reminds us of this with firm statements like, “I don’t need to understand any common man.” It’s a celebration of self-empowerment and the ability to avoid monotony even if you’re not living a life portrayed in the movies. It also plays on the anxiety of becoming a “Common Man” and the fight against becoming something that scares you.
“This song is about being a colorful bird and never, ever wanting to be a pigeon," shares Cummings. "Somebody I used to know wrote a song called common man about working nine to five and coming home and having a cup of tea and going to bed and it made me want to have a fucking panic attack. I wish I could tell people it was about riding off into the distance on the back of a white horse with a Cowboy in Austin Texas, but it’s not.”
Paired with a nostalgic visualizer compiled of old Western film clips, it’s clear that Cummings has the ability to transport listeners. Her voice is so strong and commanding, only rivaled by the power of her lyricism. With this much talent and the timing of mainstream culture opening up to the country genre, it’s safe to say that Cummings is surely one to watch.
Watch the "Common Man" visualizer below:
