Review Summary: We could all use a little more harp in our lives.
For those of you who play an instrument, how was your first experience with it? What emotions were associated with hitting your first piano keys, or strumming your first guitar chord? Well, as someone who’s been playing the piano for a long time, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I didn’t feel
anything when I started taking lessons. Granted, I was only six years old, but it all felt more like an obligation than a real passion. It wasn’t until much later that I gained a true appreciation for the craft and really started feeling what I was playing. Why do I bring this up? Well, there usually seems to be that one time in which everything just
clicks. That eureka moment that ignites (or otherwise reignites) your passion for the instrument. But in the case of new age songstress Nailah Hunter, that moment didn’t arrive so early on.
Hunter had already been playing the drums and guitar during her upbringing in the church, but it wasn’t until her first harp lesson at the California Institute of the Arts that everything fell into place. According to her Bandcamp page, the instrument evoked “fantasy, psychedelia, and dream worlds”; she would subsequently practice six hours a day to perfect her craft, a feat that must have required an ungodly amount of discipline to maintain. Needless to say, it’s pretty clear that the harp was her true calling.
When you hear Hunter’s debut LP
Lovegaze, it becomes clear just how much of that passion, practice, and dedication were poured into her music. After two promising EPs, this is her chance to stretch her wings and make a real full-length statement – and judging by the results, it’s safe to say she succeeded.
Lovegaze is an ornate, layered affair that combines the relaxing ambience of new age with the tight songwriting of pop music, creating a strange juxtaposition of sorts. And yet, the unlikely blend works beautifully; polished art-pop arrangements are adorned with the same mystical, dreamlike atmosphere I alluded to earlier, creating an experience that’s equal parts catchy and mesmerizing.
“Strange Delights” kicks off the proceedings nicely, the elegant piano work lending an air of melancholy as Hunter lays her haunting, enigmatic vocals over it. And it’s in this opening track that the magic of
Lovegaze becomes apparent: the record is just as suited to focused, concentrated listening as it is to relaxation or meditation. And there’s a trick to this; while the atmosphere is enveloping and otherworldly, the rhythm section is still active and on the move. Whether it’s in “Through the Din”’s stoic unwavering drum part, the vaguely trap-oriented beat found on “Finding Mirrors”, or the rapidly shifting basslines throughout the record as a whole, there’s always something interesting to latch onto.
Of course, as we dive deeper into
Lovegaze, the harp starts becoming more prominent as well. The title track and “Bleed” are where it gets to shine the most, as the sorrowful-yet-soothing melodies are a perfect match for the equally plaintive vocals. And yes, the instrument really
does sound like it’s creating dream worlds on this project; the swiftly ascending runs on “Cloudbreath”, the subtle jazz chords on “Garden”, and the lovely arpeggios of “Into the Sun” all make it feel as though the portal to a different world has been opened for the listener. Much of the best new age music serves as a transportation method or escape from the real world, and
Lovegaze certainly delivers on this front.
Sadly, despite the more engaging moments I mentioned previously, the music does get homogeneous from time to time. This is usually the case with the slowest tracks, particularly the ones that don’t feature much (or any) percussion. The expansive soundscapes are still relaxing, sure, but they’re not always interesting enough to make up for the lack of any rhythm or low end. Combine this with Hunter’s gentle, sedate vocal delivery, and the experience occasionally devolves into musical mush. Perhaps a few extra instruments or tonal shifts could help iron out these kinks for her next record.
Regardless,
Lovegaze is a cryptic, elaborate affair that skillfully juggles a unique atmosphere, tight songcraft, and calming vocals to create a lovely new-age-meets-pop crossover. It would be nice to hear more emphasis on the harp next time around, as Hunter is incredibly adept at crafting transcendent, ethereal musical worlds out of it; she really has a knack for painting a picture with her music, and the creativity she exhibits on her chosen instrument is undeniable. In any case, she’s certainly found her calling; here’s hoping all other aspiring musicians can achieve their big light-bulb moment as well.
