Singer-actor-advocate’s EP is a treat for loyal fans (Gavin Creel: Quiet)

Brittany Goldfield-Rodrigues
Editorial Intern
As promised, actor, advocate and musician Gavin Creel has provided his fans with a personal and sweet new EP with Quiet.
The album title is right on the mark. Quiet is an enjoyable, calm and relaxing EP with songs written by Creel and collaborator Robbie Roth. Far from being another set of upbeat, meaningless dance tunes, the EP is a retreat from the nonsensical and soulless music often produced today.

As part of Creel’s loyal fan base, I’m not surprised with this album, and I mean this in a very positive way.
When Quiet was first released, I hoped it would be a reflection of the passionate and expressive personality that brought Creel into several other careers along- side music. It didn’t disappoint.
Creel started acting a young age. Many of his fans have been with him since his performances in Broadway’s Thoroughly Modern Millie with his long-time friend Sutton Foster as well as the London stage’s Mary Poppins.
The fans of Creel’s who aren’t familiar with either of these shows (like me) were mystified after seeing him in the Tony award-winning revival of Hair.
Starring in Hair greatly expanded Creel’s fan base, especially since it came with his involve- ment in Broadway Impact, an organization that unites the members of theatre community in support of equal rights for the LGBT community. Since Hair, many of Creel’s fans have followed him closely in all three of his major roles.
None of the songs featured on Quiet are new to this fan base, as Creel has played the majority of them repeatedly in his many concerts. For fans already familiar with these tracks, Quiet is a blessing.
The EP is everything I had hoped. After listening time after time to Creel’s much loved songs “Love Fell Down” and “Green to Gray” on YouTube, I impatiently waited for him to record these songs, the ones most favoured by his fans.
I was thoroughly impressed with how these songs turned out. Each track is complete with Gavin’s soft and sweet voice alongside Roth’s guitar, and all the songs are stripped to these vocal and acoustic elements.
Most of the songs, such as “Green to Gray,” “Lonesome,” “Small Words” and Anything at All” focus on themes of love and its obstacles. “Love Fell Down,” a fan favourite, is an emo- tional piece about failed love. Meanwhile, “Hot Ohio” is a quirky song about Gavin’s home town.
This EP’s refreshing mix of calm and soothing songs is for anyone who needs a relaxing escape from the hardships of life and can relate to Creel’s eloquent and catchy lyrics.
Personally, I applaud Gavin for this deeply personal and refreshing musical collection. Like all his other fans, I’ll be anticipating his return to Broadway, as well as his next album.