Backstory:
Forming in the humming streets of Portland, Oregon, in the summer of 2015, four childhood friends convened to form the band, ‘Hopeful Youngster’. Brett Gibson, Greg Duncan, Mick Sutherland, and Eddie Wells had all grown up in the same neighborhood, sharing a mutual love for music and dreams of one day making it big. The band was born out of a shared feeling of optimism and hope for the future, hence the name ‘Hopeful Youngster’. They started out playing local spots like bars, cafés, and college events, and gradually began to gain a local fanbase. Their blend of pop hooks, soulful lyrics, and a raw, heartfelt sound resonated with their audiences, and before long, they were selling out venues across the city.
Genre:
Alternative Pop-Rock
Title:
“Chasing Shadows”
Full Song Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
[Am] Down the streets where we used to run, [G] chasing ghosts of our younger fun,
[F] Remember how we’d laugh till we cried, [C] just basking in the morning sun.
[Am] Time went by, the summer’s glow [G] faded, winters brought the snow,
[F] But the fires in our hearts never did slow, [C] we just learned to grow.
(Chorus)
[G] Chasing shadows, [C] in the night,
[Am] we won’t give up, [D] we won’t lose our light.
[G] We’re the hopeful ones, [C] holding on tight,
[Am] With every beat of our hearts, [D] we’re ready to fight.
(Verse 2)
[Am] Life threw curves, we learned to sway, [G] found our rhythm in disarray,
[F] Every low note hit, we’d find a way, [C] to turn it back into a brighter day.
[Am] Painting dreams with our melody, [G] we found solace in our harmony,
[F] We held on to our shared memory, [C] the soundtrack to our journey.
(Chorus)
[G] Chasing shadows, [C] in the night,
[Am] we won’t give up, [D] we won’t lose our light.
[G] We’re the hopeful ones, [C] holding on tight,
[Am] With every beat of our hearts, [D] we’re ready to fight.
Bridge:
[F] With every note we play, [C] every song we write,
[Am] We’re chasing shadows, [D] bringing back the light.
(Chorus)
[G] Chasing shadows, [C] in the night,
[Am] we won’t give up, [D] we won’t lose our light.
[G] We’re the hopeful ones, [C] holding on tight,
[Am] With every beat of our hearts, [D] we’re ready to fight.
Fan Testimonial (Sarah Thompson):
Sarah Thompson, a student at Portland State University, is considered the band’s favorite fan. She has attended every one of their shows since their formation and became their biggest advocate on social media. Sarah’s testimonial about the band reads: “There’s something about ‘Hopeful Youngster’ that resonates with me on a deep level. Their music is an emotional journey, and their lyrics always seem to say what I feel but can’t express. They’re my favorite because they put into words the hopes, dreams, and struggles of our generation. I guess, in a way, we’re all chasing our own shadows, just like they sing about. It’s comforting to feel seen and understood through their music. They bring light to my life when the world seems a bit too heavy.”