With a deceptively somber-sounding intro, Abby Johnson’s band drops in with that feel-good drum fill and buoyant horn line to bring you into the true steady feel of “The Durango Song.” There’s an adept simplicity to the arrangements on this track that give it so much charm. The band feels well rehearsed but still has an honesty and live element that really accents the understated vocal delivery. In other hands, the song could be sung with apathy that’s popular in modern indie music or belted like a neo-soul song, but Johnson keeps her performance steady and energetic while leaving room for the natural dynamics of the tune.
“When it comes to sharing music, Durango was the beginning of my journey. Songwriting was similar to journaling for me, but this song was the first time I felt like I had something worth sharing. I’d never played music with other people until I wrote this and my friends learned the chords. It will always be my favorite because of this.”
