With his new single, “On The Line”, Derek Dames Ohl creates an honest portrayal of the ups and downs – the hopes and doubts – that go along with trying to make a living as a songwriter. Equal parts Guy Clark and Tom Waits, “On the Line”, is a gritty, stripped-down stomper that showcases an artist ready to keep on keepin’ on in an industry always ready to wear you down.
Crafted a few weeks before 2020’s pandemic lockdown, the haunting track sheds a bright spotlight on the grind of trying to reach a certain level of success in the music industry.
“I had hit a point of extreme burnout and exhaustion,” Ohl says. “I always joke that it’s a ‘watch out what you wish for’ sort of situation because I was just waiting around wanting a change and then boom, COVID happened.”
