Debut single from Straw

Panama-based musician Eddie Straw, working under his surname Straw, is a bold new voice in the rock scene, bringing with him an unflinching honesty about his personal struggles with mental health and substance abuse. His music channels a journey through darkness, with lyrics that reflect the turbulence of his experiences. Eddie’s journey is one of survival; for 14 long years, he wrestled with severe mental health challenges and drug addiction, a period marked by destructive lows and fleeting highs.

Through it all, one constant remained, his guitar. Playing music was the only thing that seemed to feed his soul during those difficult times and he clung to it with a sense of desperation and purpose. Determined to pursue his passion more seriously, Eddie enrolled at Berklee College of Music for a period of study before continuing his education at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. It was here that his technical abilities on the guitar began to take shape, while his desire to use music as a means of emotional expression grew even stronger.

Upon his return to Panama, Eddie’s musical pursuits accelerated when he crossed paths with Nashville-based songwriter Grant van Dijk. The two connected immediately, sharing a similar vision for using music as a means of storytelling and emotional catharsis. Their collaboration became a regular part of Eddie’s life, with the pair working together week after week to channel Eddie’s personal experiences into powerful, moving songs.

The decision was made to record a few tracks at the renowned Soultrain Sound Studios with Justin Courtelyou, a sound engineer who has worked with icons like Alice Cooper, Paul McCartney and Bob Ezrin. With Kip Winger on bass and Troy Luccketta from the band TESLA on drums, Eddie’s songs began to take shape in the studio. Bringing us the first taste of those sessions, he shares his debut single “Apartment 3513” to make his official entrance as a new solo artist.

The single serves up an intimate dive into his personal hell, revealing the dark roads he traveled during some of the hardest years of his life. Setting a gritty blues rock scene, the crunch and twang of guitars is met with a shuffling drum beat and Straw’s rich vocal leads as the track flows through a grooving rock n’ roll soundscape cut with slick instrumentation and catchy melodic leads.

Brimming with infectious rhythm and memorable writing, “Apartment 3513” lays down an epic jam that marks the arrival of this thrilling new artist. Reaching a crescendo of scorching guitar leads and splashing percussion, it’s a spectacular showcase of Straw’s songwriting flair, super guitar skills and compelling vocals, instantly placing him on the map of exciting must-watch artists to emerge this year.

Listen to Apartment 3513 below

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