Vince Leigh’s Single Review: Moving On by Aaron Ford
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
One can’t help hearing reverberations of past pop hits on Moving On, the new single for emerging Australian singer-songwriter Aaron Ford. These emulations from music history are perhaps strongest when examining the sound of the track and the instrumentation. Still, they are also present in the melodic structure, which is a feature that makes the track both inviting and satisfying. That’s not to say that Ford has been overly derivative; he hasn’t— these allusions to 80s era pop are just that, signposts, and Moving On contains some enticing elements that will undoubtedly help the young musician kick off his career.
Taken from Ford’s forthcoming debut album, Moving On does a decent job of showcasing his songwriting abilities and, perhaps above all else, his vocal skills. The melodic structure allows Ford’s voice to get a strenuous workout while imbuing the track’s melodies, lyrics, and overall dynamics with nuance and energy.
At the core of Moving On lies its melodic structure, with the chorus hooks serving as emotional anchors. Ford’s delivery evokes heightened emotions and goes for vulnerable authenticity, particularly through sustained notes, and this all lands where it was intended. Despite the title’s simplicity, the lyric also attempts to experiment and explore. As Ford comments regarding the lyric, ‘Moving On talks about being strong, making mistakes, breaking bad habits and running a few red lights. The story of the song is playful. It’s amazing as guys we go through a breakup, a bad time and the first thing we do is hit the gym. We waste no time and there is something powerful in that. I really wanted the chorus of Moving On to soar, in an understated kinda way.
It’s simple, straight to the point, clear. There are so many ‘sprinkles’ of fun lyrics scattered throughout the song. It’s a jam. I think it’s everything you want to say but often can’t find the words. An internal monologue of sorts.’
