New Single “Den” By Wes Parker
by Claire Johnson | December 28th, 2024
Wes Parker has been creating music since his early preteen years within the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia and has had continued success among the local music scene with his former band Camp Howard. His former band’s success brought opportunities to tour the country and give this well-seasoned musician the knowledge and experience needed to forge a path as a solo artist.
Over the course of 2024, Wes has released a total of five singles and three music videos. His latest single “Den,” was released on December 6, 2024. My initial observation when listening to the song for the first time was how straightforward and obvious the opening instrumentals are compared to his previous releases. In the past, Wes has layered many different sounds and instruments in the beginning of his songs which add interest and curiosity as the listener tries to decipher what they are hearing. “Den” starts out with a very classic country-like guitar melody that is easily identifiable but still makes a notable impression.
As the song proceeds into the opening verse, the tempo slows down which forces the listener to really pay attention to the lyrics. “I’m gonna settle down/I’m gonna make you proud,” insinuates some type of expectation could be causing tension for the storyteller and an inner struggle could be occurring within the narrative. It is often hard for many to know when the right time to be practical is versus continuing to pursue a greater unknown.
As the chorus is revealed, so is another struggle:
“Your face, your smile, your touch.
My veins, my mind, my crutch.
You’re gonna walk, I gotta choose
Which of these I will abuse.”
The lyrics suggest the narrator seems to be grappling with how to move forward from an inevitable ending of an era. The main question left being, “How will I decide to cope with this ending? Will I continue to fall back into my old ways or choose to break a toxic cycle?”
Within the narrative of the song, the shift between musical components, like the tempo, aids in creating a sense of melancholy and longing for the past, knowing the past is not a viable option for the future, but not knowing how to move forward in the present.
With no obvious conclusion from the lyrics, Wes has left the listener with questions and possible self contemplation that may be a difficult challenge for some but can also lead to a more fulfilled future filled with hope.
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