The instrumental opening to this song has a beautifully crisp and peaceful energy to it, the mix seems completely professional and skillful in the way it’s been crafted. When the leading vocal comes into play, the sound brings a touch of distortion and volume that seems a little disconnected from the essence and vibe of the music. The lyrics and the melody have a sense of depth and intrigue to them, but the balance has a slightly jarring effect that takes away from both the ambiance and the power of the songwriting.
As the hook comes into play the musical change to the single riff works brilliantly with the change in melody. Again, the vocal effect chosen comes with a certain weight that makes it difficult to follow those lyrics along. You can hear a definite level of passion and emotion in the leading voice, the final few moments are much more stripped back and the heartbreak and sensation of being lost and alone is striking. The song on the whole would work much more intensely if the lyrics prior to this were more detectable.
This distance between the vocal and the music makes it difficult to connect with the completed work. However, as mentioned, it’s a really strong song – well written, and that evolution to the hook brings an intensity and strength that makes you want to be involved and to know the words and to learn that melody and that riff to make it ultimately familiar. There’s potential for this sort of sound to make up the heart of a go-to playlist, whether it’s for driving or for head-phone use or general escapism at the end of a long day. I think the production side of things is all that leaves that connection lacking, the creativity is powerful.
By Rebecca Cullen
Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing
