“Never Know Why” is a work of emotional storytelling, led by Jack Horton and featuring the beautifully expressive vocals of Vesper Stockwell. The fourth track on Horton’s “Imperfections” EP, this right-after-midnight duet begins with a whisper and builds to an almost celestial climax, a reminder that openness doesn’t always come in whispers.
“Never Know Why” is a simple composition featuring just two voices and an acoustic guitar. Horton’s gruff-edged, grounded, elemental tone is a perfect complement to Stockwell’s luminous clarity, the two weaving a compelling cat-and-canary dichotomy that hooks you from the start. There’s nothing artificial here, only two voices doing their best to puzzle out the mystery of love, and how it so often refuses to be puzzled out.
Starting with a meditative reflection, it’s a gentle, yet powerful, song that builds to a teary-eyed symphony. The build is palpable in your chest, with instruments gradually layered in, as strings and percussive textures emerge as subtle nuances unfold in the story. But as the song unfolds, it never loses its emotional throughline. It’s like standing in a storm, in the middle of the storm, but you’re not by yourself.
“Never Know Why” is a song about the mysterious gravity of love, how you end up being attracted to someone not because it makes sense, but because there’s just an aching. It’s about remaining engaged in the questions with someone else. There’s undeniable chemistry between both artists. There’s a lived-in tenderness to the way they trade verses and so tangling harmonies, and they’re like two voices that know each other well, not just musically but emotionally. It adds an extra layer of authenticity to a track that’s already filled with heart. As the pulsing heart of “Imperfections,” “Never Know Why” is a highlight in Horton’s emerging folk discography. It’s a type of song that strums at heartstrings tenderly, and with intent. And when the music fades, it leaves you not with an echo.
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