B-Side Guys

Newfoundland duo Quote the Raven’s latest single “Tell Me Tell Me” arrives as both invitation and question, mapping emotional terrain through the language of travel. Released in late March 2025 from their sophomore album Can’t Hold the Light, the track showcases how their impromptu Nashville pilgrimage has transformed their sonic identity while preserving their foundational strengths.

What immediately distinguishes this composition is its deft navigation between vulnerability and forward motion. The opening lines establish journey as central metaphor, asking “Tell me where you want to go/And how you wanna find it” with a directness that feels both conversational and profound. This approach creates immediate listener engagement—we’re not merely observers but potential travel companions in an emotional expedition.

The duo’s harmonies—influenced by The Civil Wars and The Milk Carton Kids—achieve remarkable balance between technical precision and emotional authenticity. Their vocal interplay transforms straightforward questions into existential inquiries, particularly in the chorus’s central question about what a “broken heart knows.” This technique elevates simple phrases beyond folk conventions into something more psychologically complex.

Throughout the track, travel imagery creates a consistent metaphorical framework—”bump in the road,” “highway home”—without becoming predictable. The progression from cosmic observation (“Are you looking at the stars/The way that I do”) to intimate revelation about secrets “tired of hiding” creates emotional momentum that mirrors physical journey. This structural choice demonstrates sophisticated songwriting craft that belies the track’s apparent simplicity.

The production approach deserves particular attention. Working with an extensive collaborative roster for their sophomore album has clearly influenced Quote the Raven’s arrangements. “Tell Me Tell Me” maintains acoustic folk foundations while incorporating subtle Americana touches that reflect their Nashville inspiration. This evolution feels organic rather than calculated—a natural expansion of musical vocabulary rather than genre-hopping opportunism.

For a duo who’ve embarked on five Eastern Canadian tours and reached over 500,000 streams, “Tell Me Tell Me” represents both artistic growth and smart leveraging of established strengths. Their recognition as Music Newfoundland & Labrador’s 2019 Group of the Year seems increasingly prescient as they continue mapping emotional cartography through increasingly sophisticated musical territory.