Lucy Fitzgerald 
New Jersey songwriter Damien Musto has put in real time on the East Coast scene, from his stretch with small a.m. and Hey Tiger to touring the U.S. and Canada with OURS, and even opening for Bon Jovi at MetLife Stadium. With his new single “Goodbye”, he steps out further as a solo artist, and it might be the most honest thing he’s released so far. The song is about a friendship that quietly ended and the strange ache of never getting a real explanation for it. Musto doesn’t lay blame anywhere or drown in self-pity. He just sits with the loss and writes about it plainly, and that’s what gives the song its pull. His voice moves between soft and steady in a way that fits the subject matter perfectly.
There’s a good story behind the guitar line that opens the track, too. Musto came up with it backstage on tour, just noodling around before a show, and it stuck around long enough to become the song’s intro, then showed up again at the very end. That small touch ties the whole thing together in a way that mirrors what the lyrics are getting at. Wayne Dorell handled production, and he gave the track a sound that’s full and warm without burying the rougher edges. The guitars carry real weight, and the rhythm section pushes things toward a payoff that actually feels earned by the end. This one grew on me fast. I didn’t expect to be humming it after one listen, but here we are, and that’s a good sign for the album it’s pulled from.
“Goodbye” gives a first look at Musto’s solo record “Cracks in the Pavement”, due out July 31st, and if this song is any indication, that record is worth keeping an eye on. Anyone who’s lost someone close without ever getting closure should give this one a listen. Follow Damien Musto on Instagram, Spotify, TikTok, and his website to keep up with the new album and add “Goodbye” to your playlist. It’s a song built for repeat listens, and Musto is an artist worth sticking around for.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
