James Shumway isn’t trying to reinvent the piano solo. He’s doing something harder: making it personal without turning it into a cliché.
His latest piece, To the One I Love, is exactly what the title says—a love letter, but told through the keys. Shot in Aspen Grove, Utah, with Mount Timpanogos in the distance, the accompanying video (shot by Nick Sales, known for his work with The Piano Guys) adds to the quiet sincerity of the track without overplaying the visuals. It’s a smart move. Nothing in this release tries to grab you by the collar. It doesn’t need to.
Shumway’s been writing since age 9, and while his technical chops are clear, he’s not flexing here. His earlier singles—IOU and Regrets—hit bigger emotional swings. This one sits in the middle, more grounded. Romantic, but not syrupy. Melancholic, but not heavy-handed. You can hear traces of late-Romantic composers, sure, but the feel is more direct. Less concert hall, more diary entry.
There’s a reason this could easily sit in a film score. It’s got that emotional clarity. But it also works on its own, especially if you’ve got a quiet night, headphones, and something—or someone—on your mind.
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