Roses are red, violets are blue. We’re listening to “Moonlight” by Tanner Boyle on repeat, how about you?
FOR RELEASE: Saint Petersburg, FL –– Tanner Boyle’s follow up single of 2025 finds us very purposefully on Valentine’s Day. “Moonlight” is another welcome surprise, adding an almost Van Morrison or Norah Jones style crooner to his genre defying release catalog.
Hitting digital shelves everywhere today, “Moonlight” is a song inspired -by and written about one special woman ––Boyle’s wife ––but written for anyone and everyone who has fallen into deep, lasting, and enduring romantic love.
Playing on the materials of milestone anniversaries might sound like an obvious cliche, or a retread, but in practice, it is anything but. A lyric in the song, might as well be referencing the lyrics themselves, “something old that feels brand new.” And it does feel that way; classic and familiar, yet new and unique.
Despite the foray into a genre not shared by his first several releases, there are still elements that are becoming signatures of Boyle’s music; first and foremost, his voice. Again, Boyle turns in a vocal performance that will leave listeners swooning. Past releases showcased Boyle’s vocal as a powerful, soulful, and impactful skillset, but “Moonlight” introduces us to a more nuanced vocal range, letting a well executed and softer performance do the work. And, man, does it work.
The vocals are front and center, as they should be, but it’s also worth noting the hook of a guitar part Boyle wrote and played to match his vocal melody. A tasteful and impactful little choice and part, that ends up being one half of the pair of ear-worm’y hooks this song delivers. The other being the turn around, “Paper, cotton, crystal, and copper too…” It’s beautiful and catchy as hell.
Also becoming a staple of Boyle’s releases is the quality of musicianship among the studio band, a reputation of Ybor City Records productions that is very much upheld by Boyle’s latest track. The shining star of these tasteful instrumental performances is Alex Merrill’s piano part, which provides a delicate, sincere yet playful, and vibrant interplay with the lead vocal. Merrill’s playing provides so much texture and movement, while also behaving as a defining and unifying foundation that keeps you happily guessing thoughout the track. The band is rounded out by Justin Stoddard (drums) and Stefan Scheuermann (bass) of indie-americana band Mercy McCoy. Andrew Boullianne continues to team up with Scheuermann in the Studio, and continues his run of flawlessly engineered releases.
There is no higher complement than hearing your song performed by a musician you love. From the sound of the piano performance in this song, Boyle has received quite a complement. And there is no higher validation of the quality of a song than the knowledge that none of the beautiful performances would exist had the song not been written.
“Moonlight'“ is a standalone masterpiece. A tastefully simple arrangement backing vocals and verse that will stir even the most hardened romantics.
Released on Ybor City Records®, “Moonlight” was recorded at Canyon Studios East in Nashville, TN and distributed through Symphonic Distribution.
Moonlights, Released February 14 2025
Written by Tanner Boyle
Produced by Stefan Scheuermann
Engineered & Mastered by Andrew Boullianne
