Professional Review By Andre Avanessian

Overall Impression:
Brilliantly performed and with a spirit-warming festive theme at its heart, Randall Gartman’s a brilliant country/Americana tune “Who Would Santa Pray To” is a well-written, arranged, and produced piece of songwriting that offers listeners a cordial and relaxed listening experience that manages to really embody that special sense of magic that the Christmas period brings to many, whilst also exploring some particularly thought-provoking themes along the way. Randall’s mellow vocal style proves itself to be a perfect fit for the song’s placid rhythmic qualities and soothingly expressive melodic elements, and thanks to the superbly detailed arrangement and rich sonic properties of the mix, “Who Would Santa Pray To” is sure to please many a country lovers ear.

Strongest Point(s):
Both gentle in its creative approach and full of heart, Randall’s vocal performance is a truly sublime fit for a song that requires such a delicate touch. Displaying great dynamic control and thoroughly inviting warm tonal characteristics, Randall gives a truly graceful performance that manages to not only echo the genre’s most humble and modest of traits but feel wholly personal and individualistic with regard to his own distinct thoughts and feelings. This allows “Who Would Santa Prey To” to feel so much more than a simple Christmas-inspired country song, there’s a definite feeling of depth here that listeners will undeniably connect with. It also helps that this is such an engrossing arrangement that’s replete with masterful instrumental layering, absorbing textural properties, and superb interplay, from the way in which the lead guitar interjects with a number of tasteful melodic phrases to how the rhythm guitar adopts a beautifully expressive lead-chordal style in order to add further color to the underlying harmony, every element is working perfect tandem with none another to serve the song. To top this all off, “Who Would Santa Prey To” boasts a fantastic mix that feels both well-balanced and professional, allowing the track to stand proudly amongst any modern country track of today.

“Who Would Santa Pray To” will undoubtedly appeal to lovers of the country/Americana genre.

About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed “Guitar Nerd” Andre has been continually studying the guitar as well as teaching it, helping students learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and become proficient in home recording.

Author: admin

Originally from Deep East Texas and Louisiana, Randall Gartman's sound and writing style are always going to transcend his roots. You can almost feel the mud between your toes as you're tapping your feet to "Alligator Crawl" or maybe even get the feeling of Bourbon Street as you listen to "Cool Like You". It's a simple sound with a catchy beat, but all the words are honest and from the heart. Every song captures a part of Randall's feelings at a particular time and place or reminisces through part of his childhood memory but you will always know it's not another song that has been written, just to satisfy the so-called, "music industry professional"