^{_{Wim Tapley performing live with his band The Cannons. Tapley is from Athens, Georgia and recently released a new single titled “Call It Like You See It.” (Garrett Cardoso)}}

By Lila Williams

Wim Tapley, the self-proclaimed ‘space cowboy’ of the East Coast, is rapidly evolving what it means to bend genres along with his band The Cannons. His sound–composed of guitar, drums, and the occasional horn–ingeniously takes the listener along for a ride with surprising twists and turns. 

Tapley’s new single, “Call It Like You See It,” released on July 18, is a blend of indie, jazz, and pop, with lyrics reflecting the challenges of avoiding reality and change in a relationship. 

Building on his 2024 album, “Red Door,” Tapley maintains a connection between storytelling and instruments, using his voice as a sturdy bridge. 

“Well Tequila,” a song off of “Red Door,” has a much grittier texture, contrasting this later release which is much cleaner vocally. 

With a Briston Maroney-esque sound, “Call It Like You See It” starts upbeat, falling and building, reflecting a relationship where both parties are at fault in some way, neither communicating with each other. 

Tapley starts by telling the listener he’s “Here to stay until I wake up and it’s onto another place.”

Rather than calling things for what they are, the listener is faced with the implications of what can happen when viewing issues on a surface level, and not wanting to look further: “It’s better if you don’t, but deep down I know, you can only call it like you see it”. 

The energy continues throughout the song as Tapley’s vocals build and grow along with the drums in the bridge section.

Just when you think it’s over, it’s not. The once sporadic horns come together, building into something larger and louder than before. 

Hearing the horns and drums come together finished the song off in an unexpected but beautiful way. 

Tapley’s hometown voice builds on the Georgia music scene and no doubt will carry to a wider audience. This space cowboy is shooting for the stars, so as he asked, I’ll call it how I see it, a hit.