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  • Bryon Harris

Paul Vernet - "Skipping Stones"


Paul Vernet is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. Paul combines elements of pop and rock to create a sound that is at both familiar and fresh. Paul is an artist that is easy to relate to with heartfelt lyrics put to memorable melodies. In 2017, he released "Personal Mythology" and is currently writing new material. “Skipping Stones” is one of Pauls’ latest singles and it’s a great way to get know his talent. Artists who contributed to “Skipping Stones” include co-producer Sean Bigler on bass, keys, and guitar, and Jim Dooley on drums.

“Skipping Stones commences with a solid pop-rock intro that grabs your attention. Guitar, bass and drums lay the groundwork. Tasteful and light guitar motifs lace the intro’s landscape. Paul enters singing the first verse which is distinguished with guitar arpeggios. “Thinking about you today. Thinking about what I can’t control or change. I know you’re gone forever, forever and a day just like today.” Pauls’ natural voice is radio-ready; his vocals sound great with the mix. His tone is smooth and clear which works perfectly for the story-telling nature of his lyrics.

At once the melodies are highly memorable. Between verses, keyboard interludes offer strong melodic phrasing; the guitar also picks up the melody with nice solo work. In addition, good vocal harmonies emphasize the lyrics. Although the song is about grieving and loss, it never feels sad or depressing. Instead, it has an uplifting feel that carries you away. “Guess I’ll just have to throw this pain away. All it does is make my heart skip. Like a little black stone, on a frozen lake.”

What is striking about “Skipping Stones” is Paul’s ability to capture the human experience in a way that you can hear, feel and visualize. The feeling of your heart skipping like a stone across a frozen lake of emotions. You can almost feel the cool loneliness of grief underneath the icy surface as a man stands alone. There is also an honesty quality that is heartfelt: “Thinking about you with tears running down my face. And grief is such a hard word for me to learn this way.”

Paul Vernet captures the universal feeling of grief and loss in his song “Skipping Stones” and he does so with musical taste and grace, never bringing the listener down; instead he invites you into a moment in time that you share with him and suddenly, grief isn’t so lonely. The music washes over you and you feel alive. Songs like “Skipping Stones” remind us of our humanity and why music is so important.

For more information on Paul Vernet, please visit his website.

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