Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by: Angelina Singer
This ethereal pop song has a lot of soul and heart in it. The vocalist is recounting a time where she repeatedly had dreams of an unrequited love, and the layered emotions that came about with that experience. Sonically, it’s mostly acoustic guitar with some light keyboard elements and vocal harmonies thrown in. Listen to this one on repeat if you relate to that kind of romantic longing and need to be reminded that you’re not alone in feeling that way.
April Fools
Sleeping on the Train by April Fools
This one immediately drew me in, with its well-mixed sonic textures and smooth vocals full of heart and grit. While the backing track is relatively repetitive, the vocals bring about so many different colors and emotions that the whole production swirls and builds into the bigger, rock-oriented choruses. I also loved the pseudo bossa nova vibes in the bridge. This song is a great example of turning lemons into lemonade as the vocalist recounts a recent disappointment in the romance department. Listen to it loudly to get over that situationship that you know really wasn’t good for you.
Never Meant to Let You Down by Barry Jay
This song is a beautiful tune about forgiveness and a fresh start. I really appreciated the subtle acoustic guitar articulations alongside the emotive string section. While I’m not completely sure who the vocalist is (the Spotify page mentions Gwynn, while Barry Jay is the songwriter), I’m grateful to have come across this gem and to support a great new song. It sounds a lot like something off of a Disney movie soundtrack, when the hero is reflecting on mistakes they’ve made. Listen to it loudly to inspire peace and joy, no matter wherever life takes you.
This is a heartwarming story song sharing about the vocalist’s relationship with his daughter as she grows up. I love the overall message of being present in life and enjoying every day, even if they feel monotonous sometimes. Sonically, it’s a sprightly acoustic guitar track accompanied by smooth vocals that have a lot of heart in them. If you’re a parent, or think you might be one someday, this one will resonate with you as it reminds you to never take any of the little moments in life for granted.
The eloquently-layered vocal harmonies are what really shine in this track. Of course, the message is also a beautifully articulated tangible story of sadness and loss in the aftermath of heartache. I loved the lyrics “he stole my time just to waste it” — a really poignant look at the way a failed relationship can often feel like useless time spent in hindsight. Wherever you are in your romance journey, this song will be comforting as you feel seen and heard in a particular sort of sadness that you might think no one else can relate to. I thought it was also interesting how the end of the song starts to sound a bit like the vocalist is singing underwater. It’s a subtle vocal effect, but I think it effectively brings that bodily experience of deep sadness to the surface.