Some artists have a way of making time stand still in their music, and the Kalamazoo-based singer-songwriter Jon Hayes is one such case. His newest single, “27,” is different. A folk/Americana lament that tugs at the heartstrings, the tune evokes the burden of ephemeral youth, the dull pangs of nostalgia, and the unyielding passage of time, all delivered in Hayes’ snug, contemplative storytelling.
With a voice that feels like an old road you’ve driven down many times, Hayes describes a monumental yet fleeting moment in life. He speaks each line as if flipping through pages of an old journal, visiting the dreams and revelations of a younger version. The acoustic arrangement aligns with his folk roots, letting the lyrics stand up to attention while gentle instrumentation builds an atmosphere of hushed introspection.
“27” touches on the inescapable truth that no matter how tightly we cling to specific moments, they slip through our fingers like loose grains of sand. It’s a song that sticks with you long after the last note has meditatively but only comfortingly. To older people seeking the years lost in time, Jon Hayes provides the song to support the burdensome thought, the voice to speak it out, and the sound of music to every pedestrian.
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