Amber Hayes makes an impressive splash with her six-song EP, C’mon, which features a perfect blend of fun, upbeat songs, emotional ballads, and touching stories.

In the fun and flirty title single, Hayes radiates attitude. The song sounds like a throwback to early `90s country, and if you aren’t nostalgic for that era, the song might feel slightly dated. However, the remaining songs sound fully modern, and all six tracks showcase Hayes’ strong vocals. If a comparison were to be drawn, I would say Hayes sounds, at times, like Amanda Wilkinson from family trio The Wilkinsons.

A strong example of this vocal comparison can be found in the song “Right As Rain,” which falls into a string of recent daughter-leaving-home-and-mother songs from newcomers like Jennette McCurdy (“Not That Far Away”) and Katie Armiger (“Leaving Home”). Hayes differentiates her song, though, by dedicating the first verse to a childhood story of surviving a tornado. Motherly advice received during the storm is the same advice received when leaving home later in the song. The song carries a positive and encouraging message we all need to be reminded of sometimes: “Don’t be afraid when you see dark clouds. Life grows sweeter when heaven pours down. It ain’t always gonna be a sunny day. It’ll be alright, right as rain.”

Another song with a great message is the beautiful and emotional “Can’t Take It Back.” This standout highlights the ways in which words “can hurt, or they can be a blessing” through the stories of a verbally abusive father and a loving boyfriend. The words and music on the talented Amber Hayes’ C’mon are definitely a blessing and should earn her a place amongst today’s rising female country stars.

American Honey
CMTT Music Contributor