Cory Henry is the king of the modern organ, that much is undisputed. In his newest single, ‘Fighting for Peace’, he puts his talents on the forefront, along with his gorgeous voice and band, to bring a slow-grooving classic R&B jam that’ll surely uplift your soul.

The soft, gently opening bass line is beautifully accentuated with Cory’s raspy voice, setting the mood immediately. And if the groove isn’t immediately obvious, a subtle hi-hat count leads the rhythm into the latter half of the verse, foreshadowing the groove that sets forth. A short organ solo separates the two halves of the verse, the latter showcasing thick vocal harmonies bridging into the chorus. The Earth Wind & Fire inspirations are strong with this tune, with Cory even sounding like Marcus White at certain times. One of the later bridges, however, an extended instrumental break for a solo, gives a whole different vibe to the song. Rather than sticking with more R&B roots, the slick, slightly-distorted guitar notes are more akin to Pink Floyd than anything else, a new color for Henry. The guitar solo brings the last chorus into play, where all aspects that have been slowly building up through the song are brought together for the climax of the track: the electric guitar, the organ, the groove, and most deliciously, the vocal harmonies. The choir-esque nature of those harmonies tightly wrap the gospel feel that Cory Henry is known to bring to his own compositions, coupled with the mesmerizing organ lines.

‘Fighting for Peace’ is such a hopeful song through and through – both in its lyrics and the instrumentation that supports it. It’s the kind of song that springs a smile on your face, all the while gently bobbing your head at the thick, slow rhythm driving through the song. It’s heartwarming, in a true and proper Cory Henry fashion.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.