Singles Spotlight:
Nelson Sobral –
“Must’ve Done Something Right”

Hello reader,

How are you today? Happy whatever day it is when you’re reading this!

Today, we’re excited to tell you about another talented artist who is making some fantastic music: Nelson Sobral. He’s a Toronto-based singer/songwriter and guitarist. I absolutely love the following description and introduction to Sobral from his new album press release so I am sharing it verbatim with you today, “When you inject Americana with a hard-edged, urban blast of gritty Midwest blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and northern soul, it adopts an entirely new identity, one of overpasses, subway trains, and the grit of city streets. That’s also the sound of Toronto-based singer/songwriter and guitarist Nelson Sobral.” That’s music to my ears, and I’m eager for more. How about you?

Sobral has released two previous albums: N3LLY (2018) and Second Arrow (2022). Earlier this year, he released três! – the title being a nod to his Portuguese heritage. Via the album’s press release, Sobral got reflective,  “Over time, I’ve become more confident and assertive in my abilities as a musician and songwriter, as well as who I am as a person. It’s all freed me up to just enjoy the process of creating. I don’t get hung up on a lot of things other than whether I like it or not. I used to worry whether something might sound like something else, but now I just credit it to sounding like myself.”  To create três!, Sobral used a small group to accomplish the music. He wrote the lyrics and melodies, overdubbing the bass guitar, lead guitars, vocals, and percussion, while enlisting the assistance of Mattie Leon on keyboards, working with drummer Stefan Loebus on the rhythm guitar.

In SWT’s opinion, listening to três! is an excellent listening experience from start to finish. There is no bad song on it. Sobral’s guitar work, melody construction, arrangement, and instrumentation are top-notch. His talent as a soulful vocalist and lyricist is on full display throughout the album. The album truly rocks. It’s got funk to it. Genre-wise, it’s got blues, roots, and rock elements. All of which make for a wonderful album. One listen, and you’ll be sure to add him to your playlists and want to explore more of his discography, which we mentioned above.

But to shed spotlight on one song from três!, let’s talk about one of the best songs in SWT’s opinion, “Must’ve Done Something Right.” I love the guitar progressions, the melody in general, the choruses, and soulful lead vocals as well. An incredible amount of talent is present and in your ears. Not to mention the general vibe of just rocking out while you listen; it’s hard not to listen on repeat, clap, and sing along. This song is sure to be a favorite during Sobral’s live sets and future tours.

In the três! album press release, Sobral pulled the curtain back on “Must’ve Done Something Right”, stating, “I wrote ‘Must’ve Done Something Right’ on vacation with my family in Japan. It’s reflection on my relationship with my wife and kids that I never would have written while living our regular life in the city.”

Turn the volume up on this one. From Sobral’s YouTube channel, the song “Must’ve Done Something Right”:

(All credits and rights to Nelson Sobral, with thanks to Castlemore Records)

The lovely cover art for três!:

The três! Tracklist:

1. Love Is A Fool’s Game
2. Twice The Price
3. Hang On
4. Must’ve Done Something Right
5. The Talk
6. Fall From Grace
7. Reign Again

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com