New York, NY (Top40 Charts) By age 25 most writers haven't published a best selling novel, survived a ship wreck, and delivered dispatches from the center of a war zone. But that's exactly what happened to 19th century novelist and journalist Stephen Crane who died at the young age of 28 from tuberculosis. This short but colorful life resonates today in the latest single from Brooklyn's Bad Galaxy titled "Never Been Afraid". Lead singer and songwriter Alexis Pastuhov wrote the song after reading a biography on Crane by writer
Linda Davis called Badge of Courage. Pastuhov described the inspiration behind the song saying, "I became immediately obsessed with his story, and just felt strangely compelled to try and work it into a song. I rarely approach songs from that angle, so it was really fun and challenging to write."
Images of war and references to places like Cuba, New Jersey, and the famed SS Commodore, all help to paint a non-linear portrait of an artist whose life was as rich as it was complex. In talking about the lyrical component Pastuhov shared, "the song is full of truths, abstractions and illusions. It's not a straight forward story but rather a patchwork of events and places peppered with some of my own speculations."
While the song is based on Crane's life, the lyrics remain abstract enough to leave room for interpretation, and at under four minutes the song doesn't stretch into the longwinded realm of your classic folk ballad. If anything, it's more straight up rock and roll than literary tongue twister, and the song serves as a major departure from anything on Bad Galaxy's self-titled debut from 2017. Co-produced and engineered by Mike Abiuso of Behind The Curtains Media, "Never Been Afraid" is the first of a collection of singles that the group plans to release in 2020. Abiuso, who plays live with the band in addition to lending his musical chops in the studio, helped to hone a sound that feels both nuanced and powerful. Additional accompaniment on the track was provided by Rob Mitzner (aux percussion) and Chris Bordeaux (drums). With a fluid and diverse line-up, Pastuhov performs a blend of solo acoustic, duo, and full-band renditions of his tunes live, accompanied by Abiuso and bassist Willie Chen. Songs with often mellow starts capture ears across the bustle of NYC bars, as Pastuhov's dynamic vocals cut through the din.
"It's always great when you can collaborate with friends and really bring an idea to life in the studio," Pastuhov shared. "I hope that this song inspires people to live boldly and take chances. It is a reminder to be fearless." The single's cover art reflects on this message, featuring a photo of tightrope walker Ivy Baldwin. "The picture is real. He did that same walk well into his 80's!" shared Pastuhov. "It's in Colorado about 400 feet up with no net or anything. The amazing part is that he was an aeronaut in the Spanish American War in the late 1800's. His hot air balloon was shot down, but he survived. Coincidentally, Stephen Crane was involved in that same war as a journalist and was likely there when Ivy was shot down. But they didn't know each other. I had no idea when I found the picture, but I learned about it after doing some research. When I discovered that, I knew that it was meant to be!"
"Never Been Afraid" is now available now on all major platforms including Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
