In June, Devon Gilfillian released his third full-length release — of original songs that is, setting aside his gorgeous 2020 track-for-track rendition of What’s Going On — titled Time Will Tell. The new release from the standout soul-schooled singer-songwriter has a sonic setting that’s heavily influenced by the lush R&B of the late 1960s and early 1970s, accompanying lyrics on universal themes in life and relating to those closest to you in life.
LR Baggs, a company that makes gear for amplifying acoustic instruments, recently launched a video series called HiFi Sessions featuring solo acoustic performances. Wielding a Martin flattop equipped with some Baggs kit, Gilfillian stars in the series’ inaugural vid, performing stripped-back arrangements of two Time Will Tell tunes.
First up is “Hold On,” a song about hard times in a romantic relationship. This rendition focuses on the uptempo galloping rhythm, emphasizing the urgency as Gilfillian sings, “Am I holding on just to let you go?” After a break and a few words about the gear he’s using in the vid — while the performance is the reason to hip you to this ostensibly promotional content, the plugged-in acoustic sounds pretty damn good — he jumps into “Glad to Be Here.” The song is much slower than its predecessor but is decidedly more upbeat in tone, focusing on, well, being glad to exist in spite of the fraughtness of being alive right now.
Find Time Will Tell on Bandcamp, at your favorite record shop or on your favorite streaming service. Follow Gilfillian on Instagram for updates, and catch his next Nashville appearance Aug. 18 on the Grand Ole Opry.
