Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Preston Pablo, Banx & Ranx, Universal Music Canada 2022.
Flowers Need Rain is the debut single on a major label for Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Preston Pablo.
Universal Music has backed a winner with Preston as the track has already charted in the Top 40 in multiple countries including reaching #5 in Canada, #9 in South Africa, #24 in NZ, #28 in Australia, and #40 in the US.
It’s also racked up some impressive streaming numbers, cracking two million on Spotify Daily Lift, 1.2 million on Fresh & Chill, and 1.2 on Summer Hits.
Preston Pablo teamed up with the multi-platinum duo Banx & Ranx (Dua Lipa, Sia) to produce the track and the result is a fresh take on pop infused R&B.
Although the title, which is the opening line to the chorus, is a cliché that I’ve used myself, the songs lyrics actually deal with Preston’s sense of being lost and overwhelmed in the music industry.
His explosion onto the music scene was quite meteoric and it left him confused and with writers block.
Flowers Need Rain was the song that broke the drought.
Initially he had the catchy riff and the chorus melody and words but that was it.
After posting what he had to his social media channels he soon had the help of Banx & Ranx and Sara Diamond who aided in completing the song.
The production is impressive and there’s a lovely retro sound that’s catchy.
It’s what Preston describes as his ‘modern vintage’ style and there’s elements of classic R&B and ska in the blend with all of it being passed through the pop filter.
It’s ready made for radio, there’s plenty of hooks to drag you in, it’s light, airy, and fun.
There’s little wonder it has been such a hit over the northern hemisphere summer and I suspect it will achieve the same here.
