Royce DeZorzi - Denver
Royce DeZorzi is a songwriter originally from Annapolis, MD, currently based in Denver, CO and on his way to Nashville, TN. Inheriting his late brother Alex’s guitar, DeZorzi was taught to play by a friend and was hooked from then on, growing as an artist throughout his travels. Today we are excited to share our thoughts on Royce DeZorzi’s newly released album, Denver!
Denver begins with “One For John” which is quite an emotive piece. This song really feels like a tribute for a friend, containing a nostalgic and reflective kind of vibe that hits home. “Vision of Chloe” follows and it has a certain playful kind of energy to it that reminds me of the early, flirting stages of a relationship; there is more to it than that, though, and I get the feeling that DeZorzi is either looking back at time spent with Chloe - or looking ahead with hopeful eyes. “Iron Shackle” is the third track and through the magic of this song, I can imagine an old prison chain gang shackled together, working hard in a field out in the west somewhere. The picture this song paints is exceptional - make sure you check out the official video for this great track!
“Maybe Tomorrow Will Change Your Mind” is the fourth track from Denver. I compare this song to that feeling where you kind of hold your breath before receiving news - very good or very bad - about a situation that matters to you. This song is tense in a way that really makes it stand out. “My Eyes Won’t Stop Crying” follows and the melody in this song is a bit chilling. You can tell DeZorzi is really baring his soul within this one. “Angel” is sixth and it changes the pace a bit, starting off slow and progressing throughout its duration. I really love how this one builds up from something dark sounding into brighter feelings by the end and this song serves as an emotive display of Royce DeZorzi’s songwriting skills.
The title track, “Denver” is seventh and I felt like it was a perfect title track, placed perfectly on this tracklist, as it really feels like a great summary of what has come before it on the album and also a teaser of what has yet to come, all the while continuing to express some raw, authentic emotions. “She’s Walking Away” follows and it has a certain gritty sadness to it; it has the kind of feeling where you know you cannot change something, no matter how hard you try, and both the bitterness - and eventual acceptance - that comes with such situations. Fittingly, “I’ve Got To Let Her Go” follows and it brilliantly ties up the emotions presented by the previous track. I love how well these two songs work together to tell a complete story.
“Ayelen” is the tenth song and this song plays like a montage from a film, setting a scene of two people who mean a great deal to each other and showcasing good times spent together. There is more than a hint of wistfulness in this piece, though, which does well to ground it. “Country Girl” follows at eleventh and it is a very strong song. This plays like finding someone extremely unique at a bar or other crowded place compared to the rest of the crowd and I can imagine a country girl being unapologetically herself, standing out and drawing me in. “Buttercup”, the shortest song from Denver follows and it has a quaint feeling to it that I absolutely adore.
“Always With You”, the longest track from Denver, is the penultimate track from the album and also a bigtime heavy-hitter. I found myself emotionally drawn in from its opening chords and the permanence presented during this track’s entire duration is quite powerful - and moving. “Reseda” closes out the album on a fantastic note and truly feels like one final goodbye from Royce DeZorzi, speaking perhaps to Denver itself through this song. After listening to this album multiple times, I could not imagine it ending with any of the other songs on the album as this one perfectly captures the feeling of finality.
Despite Royce DeZorzi’s decision to not incorporate vocals into his acoustic music, you will not even really notice there are no words in these songs - or, perhaps, realize they are not needed. The songs themselves speak through each note, each setting a scene stretched across a beautiful canvas. This album serves as a parting goodbye for DeZorzi and Denver as he is moving to Nashville in the near future and you can hear deep emotions of nostalgia, happiness, gratefulness and more within this album. Through Denver, we experience the general emotions DeZorzi feels for The Mile High City and how he looks back on his time spent there; this makes Denver a truly special album. You can keep up with Royce DeZorzi through his Facebook, Instagram and website. We have “Denver” embedded below via Spotify and you can also catch it on SoundCloud and Bandcamp!
