Single Review—How’d I Know… You Were the One
A Love Realized in Music: A Review of Mary Dawood Catlin and Alan Storeygard’s How’d I Know… You Were the One
Though most music aims to entertain, some compositions transcend that purpose, becoming vessels for the most intimate human experiences. More than just a song, Mary Dawood Catlin’s single How’d I Know… You Were the One is a heartfelt declaration of love. In this regard, the song, born from the collaboration between pianist-composers Mary Dawood Catlin and Alan Robert Storeygard, unfolds as an intimate narrative of deep and beautiful human emotions. Technically, this composition can be labelled as a romantic ballad, which sounds like a moment of realization set to music, a story of love discovered, affirmed, and shared. It becomes so special in how it balances personal intimacy with universal resonance, capturing the moment when one truly recognizes love.
The Power of Collaboration
This single emerges from the meeting of two complementary artistic sensibilities. Mary Dawood Catlin, celebrated for emotionally resonant compositions like Hope Orchestrated, now explores lyrical storytelling, revealing a new facet of her artistry. Alan Robert Storeygard, a physician and pianist-composer, brings a rich background in jazz and inspirational music, adding harmonic depth and subtle textures to the track. The collaboration extends to Todd Catlin in production and arrangement, completing a creative trio. Together, they craft a dialogue that feels both personal and genuine, transforming a simple love song into a layered expression of connection, intimacy, and emotional nuance.
From Realization to Affirmation
At the core of the song lies the lyrical theme of recognizing love that feels both inevitable and wondrous. The title itself embodies a sense of duality, posed as a question yet answered with certainty. The lyrics are simple and tender, free of ornamentation, allowing the emotions to shine in their purest form while reflecting the universal experience of discovering “the one.” The composition stands out within its genre by meticulously balancing vulnerability with certainty. It captures the wonder of love discovered while affirming that such feelings are natural, even predestined. The song reflects the way love often arrives: unexpected, yet instantly undeniable. In doing so, it uplifts the listener while inviting reflection on the profound truth it conveys.
The Piano as Heartbeat
In this composition, the piano serves as the emotional center. Alan Storeygard’s harmonic layering brings warmth and richness, while Mary’s delicate touch adds nuance and intimacy. Their interplay unfolds like a quiet conversation, gently supporting the vocal line. As a result, the listener is drawn into a space that feels both personal and private. The intentional restraint woven into the composition invites connection, allowing the song to mirror the listener’s own intimate experiences. Here, silences and spaces carry deeper meaning than the notes themselves. Every pause and delicate chord encourages reflection, echoing the contemplative moments that follow the discovery of true love.
Sound and Production
The production prioritizes intimacy in a very literal sense. Every element of the song, including the piano, vocals, and subtle textures, is carefully balanced to maintain clarity and warmth throughout. Todd Catlin’s thoughtful production ensures that the piano and voice complement rather than compete with one another. The result is a soundscape that feels like a private performance, both intimate and immersive. Subtle embellishments, including light strings or ambient layers, enhance the song’s emotional core without ever overwhelming it.
Beyond Genre
Though structured as a ballad, the song draws from multiple musical influences. Storeygard’s jazz-tinged chords enrich the harmony, while Mary’s classical phrasing adds a refined elegance. The lyrical approach aligns with the singer-songwriter tradition, creating a rare blend that gives the composition a timeless quality and makes it relatable across generations and musical tastes. This universality elevates the song to a profound expression of true love. It is not merely a personal love story, but also a reflection of the shared human experience of recognition and affirmation, resonating with anyone who has felt the unmistakable certainty of “the one” the artist describes.
Take Away
Listening to How’d I Know… You Were the One feels like stepping into a profound moment of clarity, where a rare, quiet certainty emerges as two lives align. It is more than a romantic single; it is a meditation on love’s inevitability and emotional clarity. Through simple yet expressive lyrics, intimate piano accompaniment, and the synergy of two accomplished artists, Mary Dawood Catlin and Alan Storeygard have crafted a piece that extends beyond the scope of their collaboration, touching the listener in ways that feel universal and deeply personal.
The song’s power lies in its honesty and simplicity, inviting the listener into a private space of reflection. For anyone who has felt the profound certainty of finding “the one,” this track offers a mirror — a chance to revisit that moment and hold it in sound. Love, like music here, feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. I recommend this single wholeheartedly, not only for its technical brilliance and nuanced composition, but for the emotional truth it carries, leaving the listener both moved and uplifted.