While cutting his teeth on the southern tour circuit with his former band Part Time Heroes, the genesis of Luke Cunningham’s maturity and depth as a songwriter was slowly being carved from the long nights, beer-soaked stages and heart-wrenching highs and lows that are customary for a struggling rock band. Yet despite the band’s regional success and subsequent breakup, it’s clear that Luke Cunningham’s endeavors post-PTH—and his solo debut Heart Pressure—are unquestionably his finest work as a songwriter.
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After years on the road with such national acts as The Fray, Gin Blossoms and Will Hoge, Cunningham’s new release of Heart Pressure – weaves the experiences, tribulations and uphill battles of this independent southern songwriter into an earnest narrative that’s bound to engage listeners while at the same time resonating with any music fan who still believes in the art of storytelling.
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Garnering regional praise for what the Charleston Post & Courier calls “a fine example of sincerity in music”, Cunningham’s knack for penning heartfelt lyrics gained the artist his first dose of international recognition in 2009 when was called upon to write the soundtrack for the 2010 Canadian film Blood, Sweat & Beers. Airing to over five million people in Canada and the US, the movie and Cunningham’s music would also be showcased in premiere film festivals throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
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It’s of little surprise that music critics and fans are already in agreement that the highly anticipated release of Heart Pressure signifies Cunningham’s most well-rounded collection of songs yet, as it offers longtime devotees and newcomers alike a welcomed reminder of what singer/songwriters used to be. On the album Cunningham relentlessly adheres to the lyrical standards that originally separated Part Time Heroes from radio rock, yet the songwriter takes it one step further by embracing new stylistic directions for the music itself. The result is a well-crafted variety of rock, Americana, singer/songwriter and pop/rock songs that evade any one definitive genre.
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“I’ve spent more time the past two years focusing solely on writing,” says Cunningham.
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“So many artists waste their time fretting about their careers instead of what they’re creating. But I constantly remind myself that there are so many stories to be told and only one life to do it. So I concentrate solely on the songs themselves—the career will hopefully follow.”
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Long roads, great songs and hard work have endowed Luke Cunningham with a distinguished ability to write the type of songs that will connect with listeners across multiple genres. And given Heart Pressure’s cast of accomplished musicians and collaborators, it’s fair to say that the album’s release and ensuing tour schedule will form a marriage of limitless potential for the southern songwriter and his fans.
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