Faith, Love, and Rock & Roll: Scott Ivey’s powerful EP, Fair-Weather Friend

In a powerful, soul-filled statement piece, Scott Ivey pours his heart out for his listeners in his latest rock-esque EP, Fair-Weather Friend. The track list presents itself as high in energy and emotion, with each song standing out independently with its own message that all tie together into themes of deception, infatuation, and faith.

The opening track, titled “She’s Lying”, starts the EP off with a bang. Starting with some acoustics that transition into heavy rock, the song brings a potent punch to the listeners. Scott Ivey’s lyrics describe the trance he’s been placed in from this girl, with doubts of deception and lies filling his mind. He describes the feeling of infatuation, claiming to be bewitched by this person’s smile and beauty. Nevertheless, the doubts of being played and betrayed linger in his mind, as he claims, “something tells me she’s lying” and continues referring to deception. This intense track creates a relatable feeling of the uncertainty of relationships, in which one can be entranced by a person but still have lingering fears of toxicity and lies.

This track is followed by “Grow”, a slower rock track with an inspirational message of perseverance and growth. Scott Ivey uses the analogy of growing plants to portray the process of growth within every individual, stating, “the seeds we sow will only grow depending on where they’re thrown, so just be still and recognize how much you’ve grown”. This strong message sums up the main trajectory of the song, focusing on emphasizing the importance of acknowledging small successes within one’s life and having patience, as a brighter day is just ahead. The track itself acts as a life lesson for all and an inspiration throughout the ups and downs of life’s chaotic path.

The EP then wraps back around to the theme of love, this time focused on a more positive look. The track “Miracle” acts as an ode to a lover, portraying how one person can change the trajectory of one’s life for the better. Through tremolo guitar patterns, classic rock elements, and angelic vocals, Scott Ivey describes the beauty and joy that brightens his life from his lover. In a sense, the song is written as a thank you letter to this person for taking him out of the shadows and bringing him into peace and prosperity. It’s a track that can resonate with all who have felt the raw passion of loving someone and having someone there for you in your darkest moments to uplift you.

The topic of deception resurfaces on the title track “Fair-Weather Friend”. As the name suggests, this track focuses on betrayal from someone who put in no effort to a connection, disregarding the effort put in by the singer. Scott Ivey focuses on the end of this toxic relationship, claiming “now it’s over before it begins”. The rock instrumentals along with harsher vocals really push the message of regret and rejection of toxicity forward, with the focus of the track being moving forward from what was harming him and taking his time and energy.

Scott Ivey presents us with standout instrumentals and an emotional message on the fifth track, “Feels Like”. The song itself is an outpour of emotions being felt by Scott Ivey through heartbreak and betrayal. He paints the picture of seeing his lover with someone else and noticing he’s slowly losing her, stating that “you don’t love me anymore […] you don’t tell me that it’s alright”. The upbeat guitar and drums present a contrast from a more somber story of watching love fade away, yet both work hand-in-hand to present a seamless track that showcases acceptance and moving on from being broken hearted, something many can relate to and learn from.

The final track, titled “Reaching”, brings forth the concepts of faith and religion into the EP in an optimistic manner. The artist shows his path towards finding his faith, in which he struggles throughout life but keeps persevering in pursuit of the Lord. Standout lyrics like “Lord I’m reaching for you” , “take my hand and fill my cup”, and “lord I need your healing” show the artist’s intense passion for his belief alongside hard rock instrumentals and a gospel-esque female choir that uplifts the track. This piece brings brightness to the EP and acts as a guide towards faith for listeners who may find themselves in the same position as the artist in his pursuit for happiness.

Scott Ivey manages to utilize the classic rock style we know and transform it into something new and refreshing, telling his story and inspiring others along the way. The tracks consist of showing his struggles and his path towards overcoming them, along with passionate moments of love, pain, and faith in his journey. Its powerful lyrics alongside vibrant instrumentals allow for Fair-Weather Friend to shine brightly in Scott Ivey’s discography and in listeners’ lives.

Written by Samuel Mujica