Exclusive premiere of ‘You Don’t Hear Her / Twin Flames’ by Ray Flanagan.

Cleveland, OH’s Ray Flanagan has been releasing two new songs monthly since January of 2021. Few songwriters could keep up with that kind of regular output. But, Flanagan has found a way to keep his creative spirit alive and well through these dark times. And November’s newest songs, ‘You Don’t Hear Her’ and ‘Twin Flames,’ showcase his earnest voice and ability to coax earworm melodies out of the white noise of life.

Working with his brother Russ, Flanagan has crafted two songs that feel perfectly suited for a late autumn release. ‘You Don’t Hear Her’ mimics that still November wind with sparse instrumentation. Accompanied by only a lonesome acoustic guitar, Flanagan draws us in to a song with an unmistakable political message. He sings, “It’s a cold, dark night for the heartstring / It’s a cold, dark night for the brain / It’s a cold, dark night for the country / united by this pain / We gotta teach those boys how to act.” In these simple lines, Flanagan wishes for a better world. As I listened to his voice breaking over steel-string arpeggios, I couldn’t help but think of what a miracle it is for a songwriter to write a song and be able to deliver it with this much sincerity all within the same month. Flanagan sounds like he’s been singing this song his entire life.

‘Twin Flames’ picks up the pace a little with a jaunty drum beat and bluesy chord progressions. Flanagan manages to capture the loneliness of impending winter in these lyrics. He sings, “I got a message from outer space that said / what’s going on down in this place? / Stranger reached down his judging hand and I said / Who are you trying to reprimand?” There’s a sense of isolation and disconnection in these lines about messages from the void and strangers reaching out from distant constellations. These two songs function together to perfectly sum up the feeling of these waning days.

With these monthly singles, Flanagan is proving his ability to write amazing songs in rapid succession. I have no doubt that if he keeps this up, there will be no stopping this blossoming folk singer. Be sure to listen to one of Cleveland’s finest this November, as his songs will serve as a salve for these dark days ahead.

Stream the single below and keep reading for an exclusive interview!

Since the pandemic, you’ve been releasing a new song every first Friday of the month. How’s that process and workload been for you?

Ray Flanagan: Starting in January 2021, I’ve been releasing two songs on the first Friday of every month. I think of them as “digital 45s,” with an A-side and a B-side. It’s been one of the most creatively satisfying endeavors of my life thus far, and during lockdown gave me a sense of purpose by giving myself a deadline. At the same time, it harbored a great deal of spontaneity because to create and record two songs every month usually calls for quick decision making. I felt pretty free the whole time.

What was it like working with your brother for this release?

My brother Russ has an amazing musical mind and being my brother, he understands what I’m trying to do in a way no one else can. I love working with him because it’s one of the biggest ways we bond and understand each other. We pretty much like the same music and both try to look at the big picture of what’s helping the song and what may be hurting it, so there’s not a lot of directional dissension.

You mentioned both tracks had the month of November in your mind and heart. May you go into some detail about that?

November is the month that falls between October and December. ‘You Don’t Hear Her’ makes me think of November because of elections. ‘Twin Flames’ because I was born in November, and that song has scorpions written all over it.

What are your plans for the rest of the year and going into 2023?

I will release my final monthly single after consistently releasing them for 2 years in December. Next year I plan to make a full length record and get out on the road. Most immediately, I’m rearing up for the long winter here in Cleveland, OH.

Headline photo: Russell Flanagan

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