Sam Varga takes the Long Way Back with a fresh new Yallternative hit
Release date: 5/9/2025
Rating: 4/5
Nashville’s Sam Varga delivers a new release: “Long Way Back” as a twangy, emotional single. By creating an intersection of midwest emo and americana, Sam Varga brings on an inventive take on these two unlikely genres.
Relationships seldom happen without difficulty. The song tells a story of sticking around in a failing relationship, and explores themes of regret, of yearning, and of intense self-reflection. According to Sam Varga, “I was with someone special for a long time, but deep down, I always knew it wasn’t right,” he shares. “One day, you wake up miserable, wondering how you got there. I think we’ve all been in something we knew wasn’t for us. The longer you stay, the harder it is to leave, and the longer it takes to find your way back. It’s like missing your exit on the highway and watching it disappear in the rearview, getting further and further away. Eventually, you have to tear yourself away to save yourself.”
A lot can be said about “Long Way Back” musically, and I really did like the chord progression to this song and how they were voiced. The accompanying mandolin really brought on a nice touch to the song - it's really the cherry on top that really extrapolates the Americana sound. I think using a lot of these chords that are typically associated with midwest emo but playing them in a way that sounds more folksy was done really well. I haven’t really heard anything like it before and it really seems to work. To me, this song reminds me of a kayaking trip with friends. It reminds me of that 3 week period right between summer and fall. That time of year will be here sooner than you think, and if you’re looking for some good listening for that time, this song might be a good contender.
You can listen to Long Way Back here
