She’s not underwater from what I hear! I was introduced to this new lyricist /
vocalist from England a couple of days ago online, and I am so glad I took the
time to check out her new single “Underwater” on YouTube (which by the way, was
just uploaded last month and already has over 2,800 views).
Of course, the first thing that struck me was the power and
clarity in Sophie’s voice. As I’ve said
in previous reviews, the music can be beautifully composed, performed, and
arranged, but if it’s layered with a not-so-adequate voice, it’s all for
naught. That is certainly not the case
in “Underwater.”
The second characteristic of the song that I noticed was its
simplicity of instruments chosen. I’ve long been a fan of the “less is more”
concept in this regard. Many songs over the last couple of decades are layered with
so many guitars, vocal tracks, and even keyboards that they almost can’t help
but sound “good.” By “good,” I mean far better than the song is going to sound
when it is performed live, unless there are twenty-five musicians on
stage. Sophie’s “Underwater” track
avoids that, consisting primarily of an electric guitar, vocals and harmony,
some non-intrusive keyboard pads, and a beat – certainly not overwhelming.
My favorite component of the song is the lyrics - powerful
and thought provoking. Take this part of the verse for example:
“And I can feel your heart beating through my chest, pushing
its way through. And I can feel your touch with my memories, keeping you alive.”
These types of lyrics can mean many things to different
people, yet at the same time, they create a desire to know what Sophie was
thinking about when she wrote them.
“Underwater” by Sophie Smith is available on iTunes at http://apple.co/2vyke8t
