James Shumway doesn’t need lyrics to convey the kind of sentiment that leaves an imprint. In To the One I Love, the composer and pianist lets his chords speak with a sincerity that cuts deeper than the average confession. Written as a love letter in sonic form, the piano solo articulates what most fail to find the words for—how love can exist in extremes and still be real.
The piece, recorded alongside visuals of Shumway playing against the peaks of Mount Timpanogos in Aspen Grove, carries the same magnitude as its setting. He moves through the composition with the emotional conviction to shift the mountains he’s playing for. At its most impassioned, the performance soars, before it is grounded again by the encroaching shadows of a darker motif midway through—those reverberant notes underscore how even unconditional bliss can be strained by disquiet. But nothing here stays bleak for long. As the turbulence lifts, a gentle playfulness takes its place, reaffirming the resilience of affection when given space to breathe again.
With a musical career that started at six and original compositions penned since the age of nine, Shumway has carved his own lane in neo-classical music. While comparisons to Romantic Period giants like Rachmaninoff surface often, the emotional signature on his latest release is unmistakably his. Following IOU and Regrets, which mapped the emotional extremes of love and loss, To the One I Love is the connective thread that proves he understands both sides too well.
To the One I Love is now available to stream on all major platforms. For the full experience, stream the official music video on YouTube.
Review by Amelia Vandergast.