Prolific Illinois singer-songwriter Dan Hubbard delivers his 10th studio project, the six-song EP ‘Vol 1: Letting Go’, and it is, quite frankly, a masterclass in emotional vulnerability. This is the first of a two-part collection, and if this opening salvo is anything to go by, we're in for an adventurous and deeply affecting ride. While Hubbard’s foundation remains rooted in heartfelt Americana, this EP is a refreshing and eclectic blend, drawing effortlessly from Pop, R&B, and Soul influences.
Hubbard approached this project with a newfound sense of creative freedom, recording without the pressure of outside opinion. “I went into this recording process dead set on not caring what anyone else thought about it (besides my wife Kaetlyn),” he shares. This authenticity shines through on every track, creating a raw and compelling sound. Lyrically, the collection grapples with the sheer struggle of saying goodbye to someone you love, capturing the torturous nature of releasing a relationship that you deeply want to hold onto. As Hubbard himself notes, “I didn’t set out to write a concept album about ‘letting go,’ but it just became obvious that’s what this EP is about.”
The journey begins with ‘Remember,’ a gently soaring love song that features hints of gospel in its soaring choruses and brass section, giving it a real grandeur. The song looks back at a relationship that helped someone through tough times, affirming: “Hard times will come again, don’t forget that I was here with you, and I’m here with you.” Things darken with ‘Sad Eyes,’ a track that showcases Hubbard's evolving sound with a cinematic pop rhythm. It’s a beautifully melancholy anthem about seeking comfort in shared unhappiness: “Cause I’ve seen your sad eyes all over town / You’re a mess like me and I know right now / I just want someone to be sad with.”
The EP's centrepiece, ‘Open Up,’ is both an observation on modern love and a plea for empathy. With its gentle harmonies and guitar punctuations, the song wonders why connection is so elusive. The inspiring core message, which provides the project's title, is about accepting multiple truths, perfectly encapsulated by the line: “There are more ways than there are stars in space.” The EP closes powerfully with ‘These Waters,’ a song born from a deeply intimate family moment—the scattering of his father-in-law's ashes. The track opens with real audio from that day, tying the theme of ‘letting go’ to one of its most fundamental meanings.
Hubbard’s impressive range and lyrical depth are further proven by the fact that three tracks, ‘Remember,’ ‘Sad Eyes,’ and ‘Open Up’, were semi-finalists in different genres at the 2024 International Songwriting Competition. This EP is raw, real, and unafraid to explore the despairing emotions of a love that is fading but still strongly willed to stay.
You can hear the new EP above, and or more from Dan, be sure to join him on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
