Chase Huglin: You Deserve An Ocean

Written by Robin Ervolina
The moment he sings those first four words, “I know that sound” I close my eyes and smile. The tone and timbre of his voice strike a chord of agreement with my ears. I’m talking about Chase Huglin, a boy and his guitar taking on the world one lyrical adventure at a time. Huglin hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana and released his full length CD You Deserve an Island last month via InVogue Records.
You Deserve An Island is an EP so honest it hurts. From the first sweet serenade “Wind Chimes,” to the final heartbreaking “Folded Hands,” Chase Huglin lays his life before us. In between are song after song of gems and hooks, weaving into my brain and strangling my heart. Self-deprecating delivery and delicious irony sneak into moments throughout the CD, a welcome respite from the sadness that creeps into every song. “Pills” opens with a John Mayer-esque guitar riff, and a little pop punk flavor follows. This painful tale of unrequited love lured me into a silent nod.

How drunk do I have to be when you drop me off? Cuz I don’t want to talk about my problems like that will solve anything at all…Breathe in, breathe out, and now I am filled with doubt. I tried to call you, but your foot’s inside your mouth.

“Here Right Now” is just about the sweetest stalking song, holding its own with the likes of “Every Breath You Take” by the Police, and Smashing Pumpkins’ “Ava Adore.” By the time I hit track four, “Niagara” I am weak for his voice. I'm lulled into this dreamy tune, then jolted by his brutal delivery of anger.

You want me to drive, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to go to Boston University unless I have to, unless I fucking have to.

It’s a powerful and shocking moment before he returns to sweetly pulling and pleading, prayerfully begging love to stay. And so he trips around my psyche with songs sung to crushes, lost loves, even himself. I'm silenced again as he closes the final line of the last song to one strumming chord, and this tragic, simple confession.

Six feet under the ground, and you’re still the best part of the earth. It hurts.

Huglin is a poignant lyricist who wraps his unique voice around his gift of words. You Deserve an Island tells tales we don’t fully understand, but taps into emotions we’ve all experienced. There are no weak songs; every moment is bittersweet, each melody and arrangement perfectly suited to a moment in time Huglin openly shares. You Deserve an Island is streaming now on bandcamp.com, and you can pick up some sweet merch while listening at www.youdeserveachase.com. Follow him on Facebook to keep up with his coming and goings, and to make sure the world and the proverbial girl are treating him right.