Review Summary: The stars are distant fireflies twinkling
After dropping one of the most indomitable records of 2022 so far, Silvana Estrada is back with a gorgeous and gentle four song EP that glows under the charisma of her beautiful voice and timeless lyricism. Each track unravels as a colorful vignette painted against a concrete wall, encapsulating the senses with musings on love, loss and serenity. What really enraptures my addiction to her music is how dynamic her vocal runs are coupled with the quiet acoustic guitars or gentle piano strokes. The contrast is delicate and subtle but it’s akin to umami for the ears.
‘Abrazo’ opens with the delectable acoustic number “Brindo” which utilizes velvety plucked acoustic melodies are Silvana’s fluttery delivery to her most iconic ability. She sings of ‘toasting’ to various instances in time and various people in the world seemingly to inflict mental positivity towards feeling at peace and calm in love. All the lyrics are originally sung and written in Spanish, however I’ll be using some rough translations to highlight some of the passages. One passage on the opening track that stands out is “I toast the souls who left/Leaving clarity/on their way I toast the simple idea of the wind/Fighting against an old storm.” It’s lovely and poetic with just enough of tasteful metaphor and in Spanish, her delivery is this verse is just ‘mwah’ *chef’s kiss*.
The second track on here “Se Me Occure” is perhaps my favorite song she’s ever produced. The gentle swells and builds of the instrumentation after starting with just vocals and a soft piano melody is gorgeously produced and sounds massive yet quaint. The inclusion of cello melodies to compliment the building and layering of vocals is beyond immaculate. The lyricism is fluffy with beautiful imagery such as “It occurs to my heart that/you are changing because now you see that the stars/are distant fireflies twinkling.” Vocally, Silvana’s quivering runs are extremely emotive during quickfire sections and quieter billows. It’s a perfect representation of what Silvana is capable of and the talent she possesses.
“Aqui” is a shorter track but that doesn’t stop it from making an impact with it’s lovely guitar melodies, Silvana’s extravagant vocal performance and the overall songwriting structure of the track. Finally, the closing track “Si Me Metan” which translates to “If They Kill Me” puts a perfect little bow on this short listening experience with a triumphant lyrical track about owning your dreams and aspirations. One passage reads “Let them always say/That I was a singer/Living dreams/That like everyone/I grew up in fear” which perfectly describes efforts to accept yourself and understanding where you are in this crazy life. The instrumentals are dense and gorgeous just like the other tracks. It’s truly a lovely little adventure and I hope more people take notice of her immense talent and the songs she sings.
Highlights:
The whole damn EP
