It has become clear that this is the golden era for musicians. With the ubiquity of the internet, artists can now release professional-sounding music on their own with nothing but a microphone, a computer and some time. Artist Ben Kent has done just that with his first single, “Pavement in the Woods.”

A native of Endicott, New York, Kent based the song on a poem of the same name that he had written in college. Kent said that the song was inspired by the idea of an ex-girlfriend who espouses negativity and continues to follow him around after the breakup. He admits that this is not a personal experience, but the idea remains poignant.

The song opens softly, with a blues-like quality not often seen in modern young artists. Kent’s voice has a deep, almost gravely quality that lends itself well to this vibe, and his work alongside producer Richard Pichura on the backing track further cements his skills as a musician.

Pichura’s work as producer on the track gives a sample of the skills hiding in unknown musical names. A Drexel University student studying music engineering, Pichura’s hand in the song gives it that extra something to make it sound that much more professional. The interspersing of the background guitar with Kent’s voice can sometimes be mistaken for a harmony, and the subtlety of that move makes it all the better.

There are real harmonies as well, as on certain lines, listeners can hear that another voice joins Kent’s. Again, the subtlety and proportionate use of this makes the track just that much more professional-sounding.

Kent released an acoustic version of the same track on YouTube about a week before the release of the original. The video proves that Kent has a talent not just after editing, but in raw form as well.

If there is one thing to complain about, it is that the song perhaps follows a formula too closely, with a crescendo at about the three-minute mark and a denouement following on its heels. However, as Kent and Pichura experiment more with their music, it is entirely likely that their work will find its own path.

Overall, “Pavement in the Woods” is a very promising first project for an artist and a producer who have just started out with a computer, a microphone and some time. For a first project and a brand-new artist, this song definitely earns 4 out of 5 stars.

Image from Ben_Kent via Instagram.com