Josh Raines’ new single, Two Bears, swells with the feeling of love discovered and treasured, wrapped in soul-scintillating pop that flows with the confidence of a songwriter who has witnessed the mechanics of the industry from every angle. Each lift in the production forms a melodic updraft, allowing listeners to ascend alongside the track’s buoyant motifs—pop Americana with the warmth and clarity of a newly cut diamond.
Raines’ old-school sensibility is inescapable; it lingers in the careful craft of his arrangements, shaped by a youth spent absorbing Motown classics and ‘60s and ‘70s pop, and later fine-tuned as he moved from indie band frontman to seasoned producer for artists like Zach Royal and Lexie Rose. This musical pedigree is evident in the way he layers psychedelic colours through the mix, never overloading the senses but allowing each note to resonate with meaning. The pop-rock textures he brings from his teenage years surface in the guitar hooks, which refuse to be boxed in by nostalgia and instead propel the song with a rhythmic pulse that feels alive and undeniably present.
Lyrically, Raines threads appreciation and introspection with the skill of someone well acquainted with life’s sharper edges. The line “I found someone who loves me” lands with the force of a revelation, distilling gratitude into a statement that’s impossible to ignore—if you feel nothing, your soul may as well be on a mortuary slab. The gospel-tinged motifs and rock crescendos bring a thematic substance that effortlessly distinguishes Raines as a pop artist determined to transform personal history into something universally felt.
Two Bears is now available to stream on all major platforms; for the full experience, watch the official music video on YouTube.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
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