“Everything Means Nothing” from Nashville’s O’Shea 

“Everything Means Nothing” from Nashville’s O’Shea is the latest musical gem from this married Australian duo. Jay and Mark O’Shea moved on to America after conquering Down Under and collecting a slew of Golden Guitar Award, the Australian equivalent of the CMA awards. They’ve enjoyed chart success in their homeland as well and there’s nothing about their performing and songwriting that doesn’t suggest the same triumphs await them in the American market. They tailor songs such as “Everything Means Nothing” with mass appeal in mind and there’s no question that the track’s sentiments will connect with an across the board gamut of listeners. O’Shea has the talent and chemistry to remain a force in the music world for years, nay decades, to come.

URL: https://therealoshea.com/

They’ve already made quite a name for themselves, as mentioned earlier. “Everything Means Nothing” further consolidates their standing in the music world and you really can’t point to many acts of this particular configuration that accomplish what they do. O’Shea makes the art of music making sound effortless. “Everything Means Nothing” comes out of them as natural as breathing and, unquestionably, sharing the essence of their lives together as a married couple thus far has a big part to play in that.

The music video they’ve released with the single reinforces that. They’ve chosen to share with viewers an assortment of clips from their personal lives and their unabashed willingness to invite listeners/viewers into their private world says a lot about them as artists and individuals. There’s no feeling of calculation or artifice in the video. O’Shea backs up the song’s lyrics with an unfiltered look at marriage and relationship in action, the ups, the downs, the all-arounds.

The lyrics reflect this as well. Laden with specific detail, the song does risk coming off as too specifically personal, so you have to applaud their willingness to go there. It’s a safe bet, however, that intelligent listeners will be able to make the necessary leap and connect to the portrayal we get in the songwriting. It isn’t a big jump to make because they are such fine writers. The words, as well, sync up nicely with the arrangement and make for a more complete and coherent work.

Their vocals do a great deal to accentuate their excellence. Both Mark and Jay are exemplary singers capable of invoking a rich wealth of emotion and they never succumb to overwrought tendencies. They let the song and experiences herein dramatize themselves. It’s an astute move indicative of their talents. Their growing experiences as writers and performers help them develop “Everything Means Nothing” to its fullest potential.

Producer and co-writer Lindsey Jackson is an able collaborator as well. She shapes the song’s sonic architecture in such a way that there are no opportunities missed. “Everything Means Nothing” is a single that goes from strength to strength and never lets listeners down. You’ll find yourself playing it more than once, as well, as the duo grasp something timeless here that bears repeated listens. 

Mindy McCall