With their self-titled album, The Sweeplings candidly share their personal experiences with loss, change, and perseverance. The eleven-track folk-pop project transports the listener to the duo’s headspace as they recount their journey through life. About the album, band member, Cami Bradley, has revealed that the music is “the accumulation of us as a band, our lives, and unfortunately, a lot of tragedy.” Since the beginning of their music, The Sweeplings have relied on their songwriting as a cathartic experience for love and loss in their own lives. With their latest album, they have dived deeper into this vulnerable storytelling and provide listeners an even greater insight on their life.
TRACKLIST
Fever Running Loose
Drag Me Deeper (oh no)
My Ach’n Heart
Nothing Can Keep Me From You
No Mercy
Just Like That
Stay
Can I Have Forever With You
The Only One
Without You
Farewell
The Sweeplings are a folk-pop duo consisting of Washington native, Cami Bradley, and Alabama native, Whitney Dean. The pair connected when Dean, a former touring bandmate of John Paul White (The Civil Wars), saw Bradley perform on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. After seeing her performance, he reached out to her in hopes that she would be interested in writing songs with him. The two met up in 2014 and their musical relationship was born. An interesting lore behind their art is that the two still live in their respective home states. They work cross-country and manage to create authentic music despite the distance. Their spouses are the honorary third and fourth members of the band, helping the artists with travel and writing. Since The Sweeplings debut, they have released several EPs and three full-length albums, including The Sweeplings. They have massive streaming success, with over 33 million streams on Spotify for their single, “Chains”, followed by 21 million streams for “Hold Me” and 19 million streams for “Across the Sea”. Furthermore, their music has been heard throughout the film industry with placements on projects such as, The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Good Behavior, and Longmire. They even performed “In Too Deep” on an episode of Freeform’s The Fosters.
Fever Running Loose
The Sweeplings kick off their album with a flawless folk-pop anthem that instantly reels in listeners. From the very first measure, the lead single exudes the classic sound of folk with lively pop influence. Bradley’s compelling vocals lead the track, while Dean’s harmonies beautifully complement her. The duo’s voices blend so flawlessly together that it is evident that the pair were a musical match made in heaven. With the haunting melodies, “Fever Running Loose” shares the story of a relationship that the narrator is unable to let go of. Even though it is unhealthy, as described by the lyric, “Poison my veins when I’m with you,” they cannot seem to break this cycle. The Sweeplings poetically describe this type of dynamic in such devastatingly honest detail that only a true folk song could articulate. Opening the album with this powerful track was a brilliant move, as it immediately showcases their remarkable talent and the sonic theme for the entire album.
Drag Me Deeper (Oh No)
“Drag Me Deeper (Oh No)” was released as a single in October 2023, two months prior to the album’s release. The song contains dark lyrics and an eerie soundscape that matches the vibe of Halloween. The duo’s decision to release the track just 11 days before the holiday, whether intentional or not, was a brilliant marketing tactic. As a fan of all things spooky and folk-pop, “Drag Me Deeper (Oh No)” instantly caught my attention from the moment the song began. The haunting track continues a similar theme of the previous track as the narrator recounts a toxic relationship. With Bradley leading the song, she sings profound lyrics about being dragged deeper into darkness by this sinister person. The verse contains my favorite line as she proclaims: “Caught between the truth and all the things that leave me haunted.” She is tormented by the lies she is told but cannot seem to escape this overwhelming sadness. Alongside an ominous atmosphere, “Drag Me Deeper (Oh No)” ingeniously describes this cycle of falling into darkness and losing sight of yourself in the name of alleged love.
My Ach’n Heart
Continuing with the eerie soundscape, “My Ach’n Heart” utilizes gloomy strings and a powerful percussion to emphasize the emotional storyline. The song details the aftermath of losing a loved one and navigating the intense grief and sorrow. Throughout the track, the narrator pleads to God to mend their broken heart. The poignant lyrics eloquently describes perpetual mourning that never seems to fade. Bradley’s mesmerizing vocals sing the despondent lyrics: “God I’m calling out, I plead// I’m staring down the dark of morning// God I’m calling out, oh please// Take a heal’n to my ach’n heart.” As the song builds in the bridge, the power behind the instrumentation and vocals brings overwhelming chills to the listener. The emotional track hits this high point of the song in such a commanding manner that the audience cannot help but become lost in the music. While each song on the album is written from the duo’s personal experiences, this melancholic track is born from a darker place. Bradley and Dean both recently lost their own fathers, bringing them closer to this place of morose sadness. As someone who lost a close family member this year, “My Ach’n Heart” tugs on my heartstrings differently than other songs. The track gives mourners permission to be angry at the world for taking their loved one and grieve as long as needed. It reminds them that healing is not linear, and this wound may never fully recover. Someday, you may feel okay, but the next you may be begging God to take this pain away. With these profound lyrics and haunting folk-pop production, “My Ach’n Heart” instantly became one of my top tracks of 2023.
Nothing Can Keep Me From You
After the heartbreaking brilliance of the previous tracks, The Sweeplings decided to give their listeners a break with their uplifting song, “Nothing Can Keep Me From You”. The track contains a dreamy soundscape that encapsulates the happy, yet melancholic atmosphere of the lyrics. The ballad is a sweet ode to a loved one, telling them that they will follow them to the ends of the earth. They proclaim that nothing will tear them apart and they will always stand by them, no matter what. The wistful tone of the vocals captures this feeling of hopeless romance and sweet dedication. Despite the uncertainty of the future and the anxiety it may hold, the narrator makes their intentions clear—they are committed for eternity. Even through hardships and into death, they will never let go. The sentimental lyrics throughout showcase this in such a poignant manner, making “Nothing Can Keep Me From You” an absolutely stunning love ballad.
No Mercy
After a beautiful love song, The Sweeplings return to a bleak storyline with “No Mercy”. The song kicks off with the chorus as the two singers harmonize and a delicate piano play in the background. This sets the solemn atmosphere before the production slowly introduces the soothing guitar and a steady beat to signify the first verse. Bradley’s sweet voice shares the tale of a love story that ended in tragedy and heartbreak. Now, the narrator is unable to move on and they are being “haunted with no mercy” by this lost love. No matter who tries to replace them or where their life takes them, they will never truly move on. They see their former lover is unable to escape their mind. In the bridge, the two singers harmonize the lyrics: “Took me to the edge so I wouldn’t forget ya// Wouldn’t let me go on// Told me that you need me so I couldn’t be without ya.” These lyrics indicate that this person haunts the narrator, not because they are still in love, but because their behavior while still together was unhealthy. Their actions manipulated the narrator into staying, but then they eventually left them blind. These grim lyrics are wonderfully accentuated by the haunting production, showcasing the band’s ability to truly bring their art to life.
Just Like That
The Sweeplings return to their romantic theme with “Just Like That”. The sweet ballad is a beautiful dedication to both artists’ spouses. Both of their marriages began with a love so pure and true, that it happened “just like that.” The duo wanted to craft a song that encapsulated this feeling in a way that is authentic to their respective relationships. The track shares this deep love through poetic lyrics that are perfect for a first dance song at a wedding. In the bridge, Bradley’s sweet voice sings lines that are like vulnerable vows during a ceremony: “Find me safely wrapped in your arms again// I need nothing, you are my everything.” When they are together, she feels warm and protected in her partner’s embrace, and there is no force in this world that can tear them apart. It is this sweet sentiment that makes “Just Like That” one of my favorite love songs ever written.
Stay
The Sweepings maintain the theme of love with “Stay”. However, this track conveys a different type of love—One that is often underappreciated and deserves more recognition. While several of the other love songs on The Sweeplings are about romantic love, “Stay” is about familial love. Specifically, about the “unconditional love and unparalleled joy” that comes from being a parent. The day prior to the writing session that produced this song, Dean had a sweet moment with his oldest son. When putting him down for a nap, the child had fell asleep on the singer’s chest, causing him to become emotional. He wanted to stay in that moment and never let his son go. Throughout the song, touching lyrics illustrate this undying devotion to his children. That no matter where life takes them and the hardships they may face, he will always be there for him. He will be a soldier fighting all their demons and keeping his kids safe from any harm. The entire track is incredibly moving, showcasing Dean’s strong commitment and everlasting love for his children, making it another lyrical masterpiece by the band.
Can I Have Forever With You
With “Can I have Forever With You”, The Sweeplings once again have crafted a charming romantic love song. The sweet ballad contains the duo’s iconic vocal harmonies and delicate folk production that effortlessly guides the listener through the song. Each lyric shares the sentimental notion that the narrator is head over heels for their partner and knows they have found “the one.” The dreamy soundscape transports the listener to Cloud 9 as they envision this beautiful love story. While “Just Like That” is a perfect first dance song at a wedding, “Can I Have Forever With You” would play nicely in the background as the bride walks down the aisle. It is as if each romantic ballad on the album was meticulously made to be included in every wedding playlist. Utilizing their own love stories, The Sweeplings have continued to create sweet songs that lovebirds can effortlessly resonate with, once again proving their extraordinary talent.
The Only One
Switching back to a more desolate storyline, The Sweeplings breaks the hearts of listeners with, “The Only One”. The song shares a story of self-doubt and insecurity as the result of a toxic relationship. Throughout the track, Bradley’s compelling voice repeats the question: “Am I the only one?” The repetition emphasizes her anxiety as she wonders if her partner is seeing other people or if they are committed to her like she is to them. Furthermore, in the first verse she asks the heart wrenching questions: “Am I broken? Will I ever be enough?” This relationship has caused her to question her self-worth and ability to be loved. These lines are paralleled in the second verse as she sings, “I’m so lonely, dreaming just to be enough.” At this point, she is pleading with fate to allow her to be worthy of love and acceptance. Then, Bradley twists the knife with one last parallel in the bridge: “My heart, given up to find that it’s too late now// Oh, pouring out// I’ll never be enough.” After the rollercoaster of emotions and heartache displayed throughout the song, Bradley no longer questions her self-worth and has accepted that she will never be worthy of love. While happily married to their spouses, Bradley and Dean still manage to articulate this idea of self-destructive romance as if they experienced it yesterday, showcasing their remarkable storytelling abilities.
Without You
In “Without You”, The Sweepings share additional intimate details about the passing of their fathers. The vulnerable lyrics share that no matter how much time has passed, they still cannot believe that their father is truly gone. In the chorus, Bradley’s soft falsettos convey her authentic emotions as she sings the hook: “What will I do without you?” three times. From here, she continues with the lyrics: “Goodbye// Must I try to live on without you.” Facing life without their loved one is difficult, if not completely impossible. Two different experiences are described in the song: a sudden tragic loss and a slow, prologued stay in a hospital. Having gone through both with close family members, I could not tell you which is worse. Because neither is ideal, and in the end, grief is grief. Throughout The Sweeplings, the duo does an excellent job at demonstrating their own personal experiences with death and mourning while maintaining a level of relatability for the listeners.
Farewell
Ending the album with a song entitled “Farewell” is a clever decision that contains a double meaning. While the track is the perfect conclusion to the album, as the band beautifully harmonizes to tell the audience goodbye, the song can be interpreted in more than one way. Whether it is a farewell to their late fathers, a goodbye to a past relationship, or something else entirely, “Farewell” contains lyrics that showcase the end of an era. Through the poetic lyrics and Bradley’s stunning falsettos, the song consists of wistful nostalgia while the narrator recalls the lovely memories they have had. There is a bittersweet element in the songwriting, as they are heartbroken that they have to say goodbye but thankful for the time they did have together. Although the song is more than likely about more personal events, the song is perhaps a goodbye letter to their fans, reassuring them that if they do not release anything new for a while, they will always return.
As a huge fan of indie-folk music, from The Civil Wars to Birdy, I have felt there has been a decline of good, authentic folk music in recent years. Discovering The Sweeplings has been exactly what I have been looking for. Their vocals blend so well together that it is impossible to imagine a world without their professional partnership. Bradley and Dean were destined to collaborate and each one of their releases are proof of this. And The Sweeplings is no exception. The self-titled album is a flawless project that contains eleven remarkable tracks that flow effortlessly together. The cohesive nature of the record stands out, showcasing that these are not just a collection of random songs thrown onto one album, but a meticulous artistic masterpiece the duo diligently crafted. The Sweeplings is such a mesmerizing project that it has earned its spot on my personal top albums of 2023 list.
Written By Karlee Skipper
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