For those who are fans of raw, heartfelt songwriting and vocals full of strength and conviction, AJ Kross is a must-listen. The Oregon native recently released his debut five-song EP, People Gonna Talk, and though the title track details a town’s gossip, it’s praise that Kross is hearing from peoples’ lips. A great writer in his own right, Kross solicited outside songs for his first release, lending his expressive vocal with conviction to each of the five tracks.
Through songs like “Wreck Me,” a more plaintive midtempo, or “People Gonna Talk,” with vivid details like his truck sitting in her drive and its eliciting gossip whether anything happens between them or not, Kross is commanding and thoughtful, laying his heart and his cards on the table and bearing his soul vulnerable to the listener. Much like artists like Lee Brice, Kross digs deep into emotional moments and sings them loud. Even through romantic moments like the cleverly written “As Long As I Love You,” Kross isn’t one to dance around subjects, tackling them instead with an honesty of lyric and vocal. People Gonna Talk demands your attention, and you’ll be glad to turn it his way.
People Gonna Talk track listing:
1. Hometown Heart (Dakota Jay, William King, Chris Gelbuda)
2. She Gets What She Wants (Brad Tursi, Kelly Archer, Troy Olson)
3. People Gonna Talk (Jake Mitchell, Jeffrey East)
4. As Long As I Love You (Adam Craig, Jon Nite)
5. Wreck Me (Adam Craig, Josh Hoge, Lindsay Jack Rimes)
Listen to People Gonna Talk below, and grab it on iTunes.