Grumbeaux – “Now Is Near”

From the moment I hit play, I knew I had to share it with you. “Now Is Near” hits with a heavy, grounded rhythm right from the start. Tim Z. Hernandez wrote the track, performed by Grumbeaux; it has real meaning because of the 1948 California plane crash. It honors the forgotten lives lost in that accident, capturing the exact grit and heartbreak of the story.

The vocal delivery is incredible and the rhythm section drives everything forward, keeping the low end tight while the lyrics tackle survival, justice, and loss, making the song more interesting. Words such as “Where is there when now is near?” linger long after the last note, making old grief feel like it is happening now. It’s safe to say that this release is one of the best ones I’ve discovered this week so far. I’m pretty sure you will love it as much as I did.

The cover art reflects that restless energy and with chaotic colored pencil strokes, overlapping black ink lines, and bright splashes of pink and yellow over a muted background, the visual side feels just as unpolished as the music.

This single works because it takes a forgotten story and gives it an authentic, rough-edged voice and it manages to be musically bold while respecting a real human tragedy. You get something genuine here, a piece of work that stays with you long after it finishes playing.

Go dig into Grumbeaux’s previous releases to get a better sense of where this came from. Follow Grumbeaux to get updates on new releases for the rest of this year.