Black Sands — the musical project of songwriter and producer Andrew Balfour — delivers common songs that exist in contrasts, having tinges of vivid relatability and emotional honesty.
Their newest single, “Making Memories,” aims to take a different approach to pop country, opposing the alt-pop genre, and resembling aspects of The 1975, The Weeknd, and Harry Styles, which have been showcased in their previous works.
“Making Memories” encompasses Balfour reflecting on fleeting moments and the bittersweet rush of living them.
Much of the music from Balfour starts with a guitar as the foundation, and his newest single is no exception. The instrumental is easier to move through emotions from grief to joy, having a nostalgic tone to it. The genre versatility between modern country, pop, and even trace elements of an EDM buildup strikes with intrigue, allowing for a catchy, revisitable listen.
Balfour is a longtime creative who has worked with many other industry vets, and that collaboration can be seen in the numerous singles he’s created. “Hollywood Heartbeats,” for instance, was co-written with #1 Billboard songwriter Ryan Lawrie, mainly credited for songs with BTS, TXT, and Steve Aoki, and producer/engineer Davide Russo, with his works with The Chainsmokers and Marshmello. Not to mention a collaboration with KOOLKID, incorporating modern sounds and production into more traditional genres like country and folk.
Black Sands didn’t wait for stable ground to start genre-bending, as their debut EP, Afterglow, is filled with alternative pop/R&B songs, both styles of synths blending well to create a dynamic set. The EP itself has similar melody patterns to songs from The Weeknd, which Black Sands has openly stated. His feats have also been acknowledged by the Hollywood Independent Music Awards, being nominated in both the Best Pop Song and Best Adult Contemporary Song.
Keep an eye out for more releases and live shows to come from the versatile and multi-faceted songsmith that is Black Sands.
