Well, this is great. Not merely a stripped-back exact version of the high-octane pop-punk original, but a fairly re-crafted alternative to it. LA’s rising indie gems BORT deliver an unplugged take on their breakthrough single Can You Hear Me, and it shines light on a whole other side of the song.
Featuring quiet acoustic finger-picking and a notably organic, upfront and clean vocal mix, the introducing moments alone lay bare the intricacies and unique tones of front-man Jordan’s distinctive and passionate voice in a gripping way. The build-up furthers this effect, the song suddenly becoming not purely the fast-rock escapism it first felt like, but an evocative go-to that softly screams out on behalf of the human search for connection.
BORT put in a superb performance here, bridging that gap between band and audience whilst highlighting the clear versatility and skill of their performance style. This could have been a risky move, but it’s also one with the possibility to extend an act’s reach indefinitely, when captured just right. In my opinion, BORT should easily be on track for the latter.
Absolutely worth hearing, and all the more impactful when played in close succession with the pop-punk original. A songwriter well-worth knowing about as the colder months close in.
Find BORT on Instagram, TikTok & YouTube.
