Ax and the Hatchetmen delivers soulful prelude to their debut album with "Oasis"

Chicago’s cherished indie-rock outfit Ax and the Hatchetmen are back with “Oasis,” an emotive single that marks the first taste of their long-awaited debut album, "So Much To Tell You". The track is a lush, sun-soaked getaway, offering an ideal blend of sentiment, nostalgia, and reverent homage.

“Oasis” is “about the person you’d pack it all in for instantly. And it’s an undercurrent that beats throughout every note, from Ellis’ bouncy and emotional vocals to the spirited give-and-take of guitars, brass, and rhythm. There is something irresistible, an undeniable tenderness at work here, a sort of golden-hour glow that captures what it feels like to be entirely at peace in someone’s presence or perhaps with a passion or place that reignites your soul.

The track,, produced by Jake Sinclair,, who co-wrote it with Ellis, Casey Smith, and Salvatore DeFilippis,, manages to be both heartfelt and earnest, as well as fairly clever. It’s a wink and a sigh, a confession that paradoxically makes the song feel even more timeless.

With Phil Pistone’s bright horns and Quinn Dolan’s expansive backing vocals, and Nick Deputy and Hunter Olshefke keeping steady time, “Oasis” is alive but intimate. It’s the sort of track that makes you remember why music does matter because moments like this make everything else fall away.

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