Brayden Mullins – Virginia (Single Review)

Brayden Mullins comes back with a new single, “Virginia,” continuing his country-esque style.

Hailing from Pound, VA, Brayden Mullins began his music journey at the age of 17 in his bedroom. He drew inspiration from a variety of artists, such as Keith Whitley, The Stanley Brothers, and James King. While bluegrass served as a major influence for Brayden, he also listened to artists like Pink Floyd, Korn, Alison Krauss, and Townes Van Zandt, to name a few. According to Brayden, the lyrics and stories behind songs are what makes music come alive.

In his last LP, Brayden aimed to captivate the minds and ears of his audience through his songs. He wanted his music to challenge listeners’ thinking and help them fully grasp the message behind the lyrics. Across the eight tracks of his last album, he effectively highlighted this concept with a vivid emotional palette.

While his style remains quite minimalistic, Brayden doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel; instead, he focuses on the storytelling aspect of his music.

So, without further introduction, let’s take a look at Brayden’s new single, “Virginia,” which hit the platform as soon as the calendar turned to 2025.

“Virginia” is a track that sits at the intersection of country music and introspective reflection. Brayden delivers a simplistic soundscape featuring just an acoustic guitar and a fiddle. From the first seconds, you can tell that Brayden has a storyteller’s voice and inflection, which may resonate with fans of the country genre. However, the track leans too heavily on its simplicity.

It feels a bit overstretched—Brayden’s delivery, which aims for emotional and lyrical impact, comes across as somewhat stale. The track doesn’t offer much dynamism, which is where it falls short. While the song showcases a solid structure, the passive yet emotional execution struggles to find balance. Instead, it demonstrates a heavy over-reliance on a slow-tempo, passive delivery.

The song feels somewhat dated. Its staleness makes it difficult to connect with on an exciting level. While the mix of drama and country instrumentation is expected, it comes across as a bit tacky and overused.

On the positive side, Brayden’s strength as a songwriter is evident. He has the potential to create songs that feel more inviting or emotionally resonant. However, “Virginia” misses the mark for me. While the instrumental is nice, as someone who listens to a lot of country music, the track feels too derivative.

Score/Mediocre: “Virginia” has its strengths, but for me, the negatives outweigh them. That said, I’m curious to see where Brayden takes his craft in his upcoming LP, and whether he’ll deliver a fresh emotional perspective.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

Check Brayden Mullins out on his official website
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