Christopher the Conquered
I’m Not That Famous Yet
Reviewed by: Adelie Salagnac
Christopher Ford, aka Christopher the Conquered, describes himself as an “interstellar soul” artist from Des Moines, Iowa. Backed up by some artists whose names may sound familiar to you – ever heard of Ryan Adams? – this songwriter, recording artist, singer and performer just put out his debut EP, I’m Not That Famous Yet, after performing since 2008.
After the successful single “I’m Giving Up On Rock ‘n Roll” debuted 2015, Ford is delivering an encouraging four-track EP, which has received nothing but excellent feedback, building up the anticipation on his full-length, due later this spring.
Mixing elements of soul, gospel, 50s rock, and jazz, I’m Not That Famous Yet is an extremely promising first EP, with four soul-moving songs that proves Ford’s solid songwriting skills, agility on the keyboard, and definite originality. Ford is not afraid of anything, showcasing some brave, bold moves, such as some gospel backup vocals, a full horn section, an experimenting tempo.
A short-length that displays a lot of variety and diversity. Each song has its own feel, style and story to tell. Surprisingly enough, I’m Not That Famous Yet still sounds like a unique, very cohesive piece of work. Maybe what those four very different songs have in common is Ford’s raspy voice, his almost out-of-tune piano, or his honesty – you name it. I’m Not That Famous Yet completes the difficult task of sounding both consistent and diverse.
Christopher the Conquered work is not for everyone, however. Reminiscing of artists such as Mumford’s, Bright Giant, Jerry Lee Lewis, or the German band The Baseballs, Ford’s quality songs will bring more than a few fans. I’m Not That Famous Yet is a lovely, beautifully-built EP that makes me eager to discover the forthcoming full-length.
Rating: Listenable
