Saline Eyes, the rock project led by Philadelphia-born, Akron-based powerhouse James Hackett, brings “Alone,” — not your typical breakup song, but a layered ride that shows Hackett’s progress as an artist who’s not afraid to pour his heart out.
From the jump, “Alone” is both intimate and huge. Hackett’s a real independent guy who does it all—singing, writing, playing multiple instruments—and he’s put together a track that feels like those 3 a.m. thoughts that keep you up. Here’s the wild part: this song’s creation was totally unconventional. It actually started years back as this rebellious little sketch that threw traditional verse-chorus structure out the window. Hackett says it kicked off with what’s now the chorus, then just sat there collecting dust for two whole years. Then boom—lightbulb moment. He mashed it up with another musical idea he’d been working on. What’d we get? A track that knows exactly when to build tension and when to let it explode, like a textbook example of rock done right.
But here’s where things get wild—the percussion is what’ll have you pounding on your steering wheel. The outro rocks the original demo drums that a buddy laid down in their home studio. Even after recording slick new studio tracks, Hackett couldn’t let go of that natural, unpolished magic from the first take. Brilliant call. Those demo drums give the track this rough-around-the-edges soul that you just can’t fake in a pristine studio. It’s that killer combo of homemade spirit and pro-level polish that sets “Alone” different.
“Alone” goes deep into that fear we all know—losing love and facing the void solo. But here’s the thing: it dodges every tired trope. Instead, you get this rare look at how one relationship can haunt everything that comes after. It’s painfully real and hits way too close to home. This single is the fierce lead-off for a forthcoming 5-song EP, recorded at Real Grey Studio in Canton, Ohio, and follows the well-received debut EP Dark Chords. Hackett’s no newcomer; his past work includes collabs with heavy hitters like Alex Kopp (ex-Third Eye Blind) and Grammy-winning drummer Lee Levin. With a new music video directed by Peter John-John Campbell on the way, Saline Eyes is charging into 2025 with everything on full blast.
“Alone” is proof that rock with brains and heart is very much alive—and it’s called Saline Eyes.