There’s a haunting magic to Kevin McClure’s “Bring Me Back”—a song that somehow feels both urgently new and like a relic from another time. That’s because it’s both. The alt-rock anthem, with its driving guitars and soaring vocals, began life a decade ago as “More Than You Ever Knew,” a forgotten track from his former band Scenic. Now resurrected with rewritten lyrics and reimagined production, the song bridges McClure’s past and present, blending youthful idealism with hard-won perspective. “It’s a collaboration between my younger self and who I am now,” he reflects. The result? A track that crackles with the energy of a late-night highway drive, equal parts rebellion and longing.
McClure’s sound—anthemic yet introspective, rock-solid but emotionally raw—draws power from duality. “Bring Me Back” embodies this perfectly: its churning guitars and propulsive rhythm section (courtesy of brother Derek McClure on bass and Josiah Hunter on drums) create a backdrop for lyrics that ache with vulnerability. That tension peaks in the song’s climactic final chorus, where a spine-tingling vocal harmony gives way to a thunderous drum fill before landing on the heart-stopping line: “Bring me back to that place where I belong.” It’s a moment McClure calls the song’s “emotional summit,” one that distills its central question—can we ever reclaim what we’ve lost?
The indie artist’s journey has been its own exercise in revival. As the producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist behind “Bring Me Back,” McClure embodies the D.I.Y. spirit, but he’s quick to credit collaborators like co-writer Jackson Haselhorst and mixer Patrick Peringer. “This song has lived more lives than most,” he laughs, referencing its decade-long evolution. Yet the challenges of independent artistry—limited budgets, fleeting attention spans—haven’t dimmed his ambition. If anything, they’ve sharpened his focus on creating music that’s “perfect for people who want to listen (or sing along) with intent,” as he puts it.
What’s next? For McClure, 2025 is about momentum. More singles are coming, building toward a full-length album and Midwest tour dates. “I want these songs to feel alive in a room with people singing along,” he says. It’s a fitting goal for an artist whose work thrives on connection—between past and present, artist and audience, the dreams we chase and the ones we leave behind.
Turn up “Bring Me Back” loud, and stay tuned: @KevinTMcClure is just getting started.