What do you do when the world is falling apart? This question has been asked by many generations. For California-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Ehson Hashemian, the answer was music. He masterfully conveyed his experiences in his new release Me Then You, whose singles threaten to settle into top positions on music charts for a long time.

This isn’t the artist’s first creation. His repertoire already includes Bliss and Believe, which saw the light of day in 2025. Earlier albums such as Animation (2023) and Face Shine (2024) have already gathered crowds of fans, and the hit “Cough Syrup” landed in third position on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Ehson Hashemian chose the theme of good feelings expressed through music. In his opinion, only they are capable of resisting the evil of a world that makes people unhappy.

This idea reached its highest concentration in the new album Me Then You. Ehson Hashemian recorded 14 songs in which one and the same theme is traced: love. With this device, the artist decided to prove that the highest aspiration to love is the main goal in everyone’s life. Only through it is it possible to defeat evil. By expressing the same theme in different tracks, you can convey it to the heart more quickly, especially since the music itself is assembled light and melodic for rock as a genre. Each of the 14 tracks reveals this theme differently, making it closer to different listeners. The theme is presented through different instruments and techniques, revealing one motif from different sides.

The album Me Then You opens with the track “Back Home.” Mobile, infectious, spirited. The low, velvety baritone here sounds light, velvety, and beautiful. The track is permeated with dance energy, fast pulsation without drama, immersing you in the dancing mood of a graduation party or somewhere on the beach. You definitely won’t want to be sad under it. Ehson’s voice doesn’t stand out against the music, but merges together with it. The main thing here remains the insistent rhythm of the guitar. This is a truly infectious rocker track with an unexpected ending.

“Everything” sounds slightly more restrained, but no less bright than “Back Home.” Here more space opens up for the voice. Thanks to unusual instrumental techniques, the track turned out light, melodic, incredibly danceable. I didn’t immediately believe it was rock, it sounds so weightless. There’s no drama in it, no anguish, no dreaminess. This is, rather, light dance music, pleasant, invigorating, beautiful.

“I Knew” struck me with unusual chords against a ballad rhythm. The broken melody, unusual harmony techniques, play of semitones sound somewhat mystical, not to mention the artist’s voice. In this track, it’s particularly hypnotic, like a real guru’s. The single itself isn’t as mobile as the previous ones, but it has the same optimistic character. It’s unlikely anyone will be able to feel sad to it. This is restrained dance music, moderately invigorating, not conducive to relaxation.

“I Wish” is a bright, optimistic dance that immerses you in the atmosphere of an American party. Moderately fast, it invigorates no worse than a can of cola. Its sound is more rock than the previous tracks, but there’s no drama in it. The calm narration over pleasant melodic figures is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. I felt a lot of light in this track, a cheerful and joyful mood. By the way, the artist’s low voice here contrasts particularly effectively with the incredibly light music.

“Just Want” reminded me of an American Christmas ballad with an insistent character. Like the previous tracks, it’s overflowing with optimism, almost uncharacteristic of rock as a genre. Melodic techniques are brightly expressed in it, adding a “Christmas” character to the music. I think it would be appropriate as a soundtrack to a holiday film, or perhaps as a solo number at a party with Santa. The artist’s voice is revealed interestingly here, especially the upper range, and the track itself won’t leave holiday lovers indifferent.

“Looking” is a bright example of calm “disco.” I was surprised how a pulsating-mobile “heart” can hide inside such a calm track. The track itself sounds somewhat “lazy,” but very pleasant. The ballad character is well felt here. How mobility can combine with such calmness is a mystery to me. But the track turned out interesting, striving forward with jewel-like calibrated instruments against the background of the artist’s rich voice.

The album’s title track Me Then You unfolds with a small guitar solo, then the melody appears. In it, the artist’s voice soars over mobile and bright music with a distinctly danceable character, emphasized by guitar progressions. Thanks to effective percussion techniques, the impression is created that there are bells in the music, so it seems sparkling and incredibly mobile. This is a morning energizer in the world of rock, helping you wake up from the first chords. The artist’s voice sounds particularly mesmerizing here.

“One You Want” refers to country-rock with its heart-wrenching ballads. String instruments play a special role in this track, emphasizing the carefree character of the music. Ehson Hashemian uses special melodic techniques here, adding playful spontaneity to the track. And only the drum intros remind you that this track is still rock.

The single “Only You” is a calm ballad with a mobile character, dedicated to the only person in the world. This track is slightly calmer than the previous ones. It immerses you in the atmosphere of one true love. Happiness accessible to those who are open to this bright feeling.

“Time Is Right” stands out against the rest with a beautiful instrumental solo. Mobile, like all the other tracks, it gradually builds up the rhythm. In it, I felt a bluesy tinge of sound against the background of new instruments that weren’t there before. Interesting special effects emphasize the cinematic quality of the single, and the vocals are revealed with new facets.

“To An End” returned me to the familiar sound of the album’s tracks (except for “Time Is Right”). In it, Ehson Hashemian returned to his usual manner, strengthening the guitar component. Again I felt a sea of optimism, playfulness, joy. It’s like returning to childhood, to an amusement park.

“When It’s Over” reveals the album’s theme in a brighter cosmic character thanks to acoustic effects. The familiar theme sounds more airy than before. There’s almost no insistence in it. Against its background, the artist’s voice also seems cosmic, somewhat “otherworldly.”

“Work It Out,” like “Time Is Right,” differs greatly from the other tracks. Incredibly mobile, it announces itself with a bright electronic solo, then other instruments join in. No slowness, no ballad quality can be found here. This is an incredibly infectious and bright track, where even the soloist’s voice acquires new colors. The instruments are chosen unexpectedly, successfully, richly. No place for relaxation can be found here.

The last track “You Got It” is a refreshing dance with special effects, immersing you in the atmosphere of modern club life. Unexpected vocal turns and techniques create the effect of “two artists.” Ehson Hashemian reveals his voice from an unusual side, showing what he didn’t do in previous tracks. The music sounds very playful, lively, setting even whiners in an optimistic mood. A worthy conclusion to the album. The bright techniques left a great impression.

I think Ehson Hashemian managed to reveal the aspiration to the best through all the album’s tracks, although some of them differ greatly from the rest in character. For rock, this is a concentration of optimism, close to rock and roll and incredible light with a danceable character. Through the play of instruments, Ehson Hashemian managed to create a subtle game, thanks to which similar tracks were perceived completely differently. This is a jewel-like calibrated album that doesn’t tolerate fuss, into which you need to listen carefully in order to rediscover what is dear.

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub