From the opening bars of George Collins’s “Open Up,” there is a sense that something deeper is at play. Not just another well crafted track from a thoughtful songwriter, but a deliberate reaching for something sacred.
And indeed, the song wears its Peter Gabriel influence proudly, especially the spectral fingerprints of Mercy Street , which was one of Gabriel’s most haunting and meditative works.
But Collins doesn’t merely mimic it. He reinterprets, he absorbs, and he builds his own quiet cathedral of sound.
At its core, “Open Up” is about vulnerability — that conscious, often exhausting decision to remain emotionally available as the years add both wisdom and weight.
The chorus is a mantra more than a hook, a repeated invitation inward and outward. It’s no coincidence that the track is driven by keyboards and layered vocals rather than Collins’ familiar guitar. This is definitely a songwriter stepping outside his comfort zone and embracing evolution.
That creative shift was made possible by the collaboration with award winning Canadian producer Rob Wells, who is known for work with some of the biggest names in pop.
And yet, instead of gloss, Wells helps shape the texture. Their work together feels cinematic but never overblown. Moody yes but also very much grounded in humanity.
George says about the song:
“Concerning the story behind “Open Up,” it was definitely intended to be a Peter Gabriel influenced track from the very beginning – he is one of my heroes.
For the new album, I also wanted to expand my songwriting beyond the guitar-based songs I’ve written all my life and tip my hat to other styles and genres that have influenced me over the years.
I had the title and the concept for the song, the chorus, as well as several guitar riffs kicking around in my head for years, but I knew I wanted “Open Up” to be a keyboard driven track with layered vocals, sonorous textures and exotic instrumentation, like Peter Gabriel’s “Mercy Street.”
As a guitarist with limited production skills, I knew I needed to collaborate on this song with an A-list keyboardist/producer to bring my incipient ideas to life.
I approached one of my Mentors, Rob Wells https://robwellsmusic.com/ an award-winning, multi-platinum selling Canadian songwriter and producer who has worked with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and dozens of other notables – and who happens to be one of the nicest guys in the world.”
Exotic instrumentation winds through “Open Up” without calling attention to itself, and the vocals stack shimmer like late afternoon light through stained glass.
You can hear how hard Collins has worked on the vocal performance, singing through the song again and again over two days in a Prague studio with no shortcuts taken. What’s striking though is how much heart is in the details. The production is refined, but the soul of the song comes through in Collins’ voice.
He is offering an important message not to harden – don’t retreat, stay open! Something that many of us could listen to.
“Open Up” is indeed one of those late career songs that is reaching forward into a new phase of creativity, with courage and grace.
Connect with George Collins:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube
Modern Mystery 