Premiere: Lee DeWyze doesn’t “Let Go” of success

New Paranoia CD is cinematic

Singer-songwriter Lee DeWyze’s emotional storytelling has spanned seven albums, earned him 30 high-profile film, TV and advertising placements in just a few years—including the “Sink Or Swim” track in the trailer for Julia Roberts’ new film Ben Is Back, and a win on American Idol after his first two albums.

There’s some back-and-forth: DeWyze’s latest, Paranoia, is a darkly cinematic album affording intimate access to a seductive, beautiful netherworld filled with struggle, salvation, and vulnerability. DeWyze wants to transport his listeners out of their world, an into his song. “I want to spread the magic,” he said. His “Blackbird Song” for the hit horror AMC series The Walking Dead accrued over 12 million YouTube views, over 6 million streams on Spotify, and has sold over 100,000 copies, so it’s fair to say he is successfully spreading the magic.

Unlike the typical touring artist, DeWyze has become a formidable artist in the sync licensing world, with placements in Elementary, Suits, The Fosters, Nashville, Reign, Hart of Dixie, and Bull. Blue Cross/Blue Shield chose his song, “Don’t Be Afraid,” as its official national campaign song two years in a row, and his song, “The Ride,” cruises in several NASCAR commercials.

“Let Go” feels like a private performance, in a dark room under a spotlight. The lyrics are a wakeup call that it truly is always darkest before dawn. DeWyze told Elmore, “‘Let Go’ is one of the more personal songs on Paranoia and it really dives in and reflects on the way things in our life can affect us; dealing and coping with pain while also finding glimpses of hope and peace. I wanted the video to reflect the feeling you get when listening to the song.”