Considering he taught himself to play guitar just five years ago, and piano only three, Edward Hartline’s music has already evolved more than some musicians twice his age. His earliest EP, Lagniappe, was recorded in his living room when he was 13, and though it reflects the angst of his age, the light of poetic word play shines through. On his first studio CD, Candy for Bread Map (age 15), the songs show a further maturity, not only lyrically, but in construction and theme as well. These songs touch on abusive relationships and loss of faith, as well as loves lost and found. Edward’s second EP, hartline. (17), evokes a rainy nostalgia, where introspection lingers beyond memory to face solitude and regret. Recent single releases on his journey towards a second CD are brighter, and more upbeat, though not necessarily less heart-rending.
