When I Get Old is the feel-good album of the Summer! Honest lyrics merge with compelling melodies to reunite you with your childhood. The maestro of this album is singer/songwriter Paul Hatem, who has been quietly writing songs and making music in New England for most of his adult life. Hatem’s writing has mostly been for himself over the years which is what makes his lyrics feel so personal.
Hatem has found and developed a style over the years that allows his songs to come to life when he sings them. When I Get Old is packed full of memories, thoughts, observations, and experiences from Hatem’s life. Some songs are plucked from his childhood mind and other songs feature his current perspective. Whether Hatem is singing about waiting for his mom to pick him up or about a break-up, he does it with an undeniable sense of honesty and feeling that keeps you coming back for more.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Paul-Hatem-Music-247995299222227/
Over 12 tracks Hatem covers an array of topics that are personal yet universal. It’s clear that Hatem has a lot to draw from when it comes to his songwriting. His perspective appeals to the everyman while maintaining a poetic essence that lingers with you. While so much of what Hatem covers on When I Get Old feels familiar, he’s had plenty of specific experiences that have led him to have unique perspectives.
The inspiration for opening track “Simon” comes from his experience of having to adjust to having a newborn baby brother. While any older sibling can relate to that shift in dynamic, Hatem is the third eldest child of ten kids, so he had to deal with that dynamic more often than most. Hatem is able to maintain the innocent outlook he had as a kid on “Simon,” keeping this track humorous and light. The perspective is refreshing, relatable, and is often funny. “Simon” is an extremely honest look about the confusion and jealousy that older siblings feel when a newborn arrives.
One of Hatem’s sentiments is that “all music is folk music,” even though his sound is deeply rooted in what we know as folk. This outlook allows Hatem to not get stuck in a box and have all his songs sound the same. Hatem is influenced by country, bluegrass, and rock which you can hear hints of throughout When I Get Old. Songs like “Knuckleheads,” “Pancakes, Bacon, and Eggs,” and “The Dead” explore some of these influences. Hatem’s explorative nature bleeds into his songwriting and overall sound. What I find to be so captivating about Hatem’s style is how it feels like he’s diving back into his memories to explore and uncover things he may have missed then. Most of the tracks on the album tell you a story which imbues this album with warmth and nostalgia. When this warmth mixes with evocative lyrics and well paired melodies something truly magical happens.
SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/paulhatem/when-i-get-old-may-6-mix
There is an undeniable thoughtfulness that Hatem possesses that shows up in every aspect of his music. Hatem dives deep into whatever topic he sings about, often finding beautiful perspectives and viewpoints in his experiences. It also appears in how his songs are arranged and how perfectly balanced his melodies are. Hatem’s vocals and acoustic guitar are the main focus but key backing vocals and well placed instruments elevate his songs. Each song has a tone and feeling that’s unique to it, with Hatem’s tenor voice serving as a grounding point. This production allows for the truth of his songs to be amplified in a way that takes your breath away.
Claire Uebelacker