Samuel Day's "The Spark" is a shining example of music that is diverse, accessible, and well executed from start to finish. It's also a reminder of why the word 'dedication' is used so much in the music industry, as it is entirely self-produced, mixed, mastered, and performed by Day, aside from the string talents of Quentin Marsh and Anna Bumiller on the song "Walk With Fire". The Spark combines hard rock, orchestral arrangements, pop/electronic, and acoustic ballads to weave a well-rounded piece of work, while still representing each style it incorporates with skill and effectiveness. The instrumental intro "Daybreak" kicks things off by giving listeners a taste of everything to come, with a wall of strings and guitars garnished by electronic synths and highlighted by notions of saxophone. "House of Shadows" moves into a pounding, moody, heavy rock, fringed with ghosts of dubstep and metal. "The Screen" finds Day flexing his pop and dance music muscles, with its heavy bass and synth hooks, grounded by practical piano and championed by layers of vocal harmony. "Walk With Fire" features the talents of Quentin Marsh on violin and Anna Bumiller on cello (captured in cooperation with Damon Sink at DalSegno Media), and gives a more personal, raw vibe in contrast with its surrounding tracks. "The Roses" continues the acoustic aesthetic, but reestablishes the groove as a pulsing ballad. "Whatever it Takes" finishes off the EP in stunning radio-rock form. The Spark will be a welcome addition to the collection of any music lover, but beyond that, it is certainly only the beginning of something much, much bigger.