We Speak Music
A Song for Her Father: Mary Milton Finds Light in Loss on “On My Shoulder”
There’s no shortage of big voices in modern pop, but “On My Shoulder” sees Mary Milton bring something more substantial to the table: genuine emotional weight. Written in the wake of her father’s passing, the track carries a sense of lived experience that cuts through from the outset.
Milton’s vocal performance is the song’s backbone. There are shades of Adele in its delivery, but she avoids falling into imitation, instead carving out a sound that feels distinctly her own, rich, controlled, and deeply expressive.
Backing her is a lush arrangement featuring the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, which gives the track a cinematic edge. It’s polished without feeling overproduced, allowing the emotion at its core to remain front and centre.
Having first made waves on The Voice, Milton continues to build on that early promise. “On My Shoulder” suggests she’s not just another talent show success story, but an artist with something real to say, and the voice to carry it.
We Speak Music
Mark Winters and Son Co-Write New Single “Can I Rise” — A Song About Roots, Identity, and Becoming (out on June 5, 2026)
A reflective new release exploring the balance between inheritance and choice, written across generations.
Texas-based singer-songwriter Mark Winters returns with “Can I Rise,” a thoughtful and emotionally resonant new single co-written with his son. Together, they explore one of life’s most enduring questions: Are we defined by the lives we inherit, or by the paths we choose to create?
Built around the refrain “Can I rise / Will my roots hold me down,” the song lives in the tension between earth and sky, past and possibility. It reflects on family, identity, and the quiet courage it takes to step forward while carrying the weight of where we come from.
“This song started as a personal reflection,” says Mark Winters. “But writing it with my son gave it a completely new dimension. It became a conversation between generations — not just about where we come from, but about what we do with that inheritance.”
That generational lens runs through the song’s imagery: a father’s discipline, a mother’s restless spirit, a grandmother’s poetic skies, and a grandfather’s steady hands. Through it all, “Can I Rise” becomes not just a question of identity, but a shared exploration — how each generation both carries and reshapes the one before it.
Musically, the track blends Winters’ signature elements — poetry, science, and positivity — with a grounded, open-air sound rooted in Americana and rock. His background as an aerospace engineer continues to shape the language of motion, lift, and trajectory, while the songwriting partnership adds a fresh emotional perspective.
The result is a sound that feels both timeless and evolving — echoing the storytelling clarity of Tom Petty, the introspective guitar work of John Mayer, and the uplifting spirit of Jason Mraz.
Winters also credits his grandmother, Dean C. Winters, as his lifelong poetry pal and muse, whose influence can be felt in the song’s imagery and emotional depth.
Rather than offering answers, “Can I Rise” invites listeners into the question itself. Can we honor our roots without being held down by them? Can we carry forward what matters while still choosing our own direction?
With this release, Mark Winters and his son deliver a song that is both deeply personal and widely relatable — a reminder that the journey of becoming is something we don’t take alone.
“Can I Rise” will be available on all major streaming platforms on June 5.
-
We Speak Music7 days agoUK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean culture Africa Oyé Festival returns for 2026.
-
We Speak Music1 week agoVÆB arrive with ‘Gimme More’
-
We Speak Music6 days agoBUSHMAN Is Back With “Reggae In Nashville”
-
We Speak Music6 days agoInside MIIA’s Dark, Cinematic New Era