Feature: Ridge Dawson

A cautionary tale about a young man who “wondered what it's like to feel alive”

Imagine packing everything you own into a suitcase and moving to the entertainment capital of the world, not knowing a single person when you got there. That is what Ridge Dawson experienced in the fall of 2022 and that is what inspired his second official release: Heaven.

Recorded in a small studio in Ridge’s hometown of Reno, NV, Heaven blends the use of real instruments with electronic instruments, creating a sound that is familiar but also innovative. It transitions from a calm and rhythmic verse to an intense, driving chorus that features distorted guitar and rising string lines. It overall perfectly encapsulates the feelings of uneasy hopefulness that inspired the song.

It is an energetic and powerful pop song, but most importantly, it is truly authentic. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is enticed by a dark figure to move to Los Angeles and chase the dream of becoming a musician. Upon arriving in Hollywood, he quickly realizes that it’s not all it's cracked up to be. Dealing with the stress of pressure and loneliness, the man sees that there is more to Hollywood than just “lovely weather.”

Listen to ‘Heaven’ NOW!