“Echo” by Amber Jade Smith – A Song Feature

 

     “Echo” opens in cinematic darkness, its thunderous chest-rattling percussion leaving the first imprint - and rightly so! But the listener quickly learns that the song from Amber Jade Smith offers far more. Her commanding voice cuts through, almost untouched by the force of the percussion. And the many shifts in vocal tempo heighten the impact of the intelligently crafted lyrics, with quicker passages injecting urgency and slower phrasing creating moments of calm. The shifting is particularly effective starting with the verse at 2:55. 
 
    The song is about the pains of a love relationship. Amber Jade Smith explained:
  “’Echo’ is an ambient and emotive reflection on love, fear, and self-awareness. Written in the middle of the night during a period of deep reflection, the song explores unhealthy attachments, the fear of abandonment, and the ache of wanting love to be returned even when it hurts. Through honest vocals and atmospheric soundscapes, I tried to turn vulnerability into beauty and creativity, transforming my desire to be loved into a moment of raw, honest expression. ‘Echo’ was produced by the amazing Josiah Manning, hitting sticks on the studio floor and creating soundscapes with recorders and keys.”
 
     The mention of turning “vulnerability into beauty and creativity” most likely relates to composing “Echo” as a whole, but the turn to beauty also describes the entrance of strings (or synth-generated violins) at 1:10, when the the percussive intensity temporarily exhales. But, much like the shifting vocal tempo, the strings are most affecting near the song’s end, as their gentle beauty offers a striking counterpoint to the percussion’s fierce weight and the echoing anguish in the vocals. 
 
     Amber Jade Smith was born in South Wales and is now based in Plymouth, UK. She has always been highly interested in music, influenced by artists such as Stevie Nicks, Daughter and The xx. 
 
     “Echo” by Amber Jade Smith

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ambersmithofficial/
Streaming sources: https://amberjadesmith.ffm.to/echo

Lyrics of “Echo” by Amber Jade Smith 
I don't wanna fight,
Nothing I ever say seems to come out right,
And even if it did, I have nothing left to give.
 
We ended up hollow, my love was never intended to be borrowed,
I wanted you to take it from me, keep it from me,
Like you needed it to live.
 
Because I needed it like water needs to flow,
Like a river needs somewhere to go,
Reaching for somewhere that I don't feel alone.
Oh my love, it was always yours to keep, you know.
We were never in too deep at all.
All I ever wanted was your echo.
 
Your echo….
Your echo….
 
You were always gonna fly,
But you and me were looking at two different skies,
The sun never shone in mine,
But don't you dare tell me that I didn't try.
 
Because I needed it like water needs to flow,
Like a river needs somewhere to go,
Reaching for somewhere that I don't feel alone.
Oh my love, it was always yours to keep, you know.
Hold on till your knuckles start to glow,
All I ever wanted was your echo.
 
Your echo…..
Your echo….
 
Well I guess that it's naive to wear my heart upon my sleeve
I can't believe that it meant nothing after all.
Maybe I won't ever know what happened to me long ago
I thought that you'd be there to break the fall.
 
Because I needed it like water needs to flow,
Like a river needs somewhere to go,
Reaching for somewhere that I don't feel alone.
Oh my love, it was always yours to keep, you know.
We were never in too deep at all.
All I ever wanted was your echo.
 
Your echo…..
Your echo…..

“Breathe Strong Little Fighter” by Into The Afterimage – A Song Feature

 

     We don’t possess the artistic skills to have personally experienced cathartic release through a song of our own. But like all music lovers, the power of a song is sometimes the vehicle for empathetically transporting into deeply emotional real-life experiences of others. “Breathe Strong Little Fighter” carries that power.  
 
     In talking about the song, Ryan Vander Werff of Into the Afterimage shared:
  “This is the most personal song I’ve ever written—about my first son, Niko, and the days we spent in the NICU after he was born with a pneumothorax. It’s a love letter to his fight for breath, and to the quiet, terrifying beauty of watching someone so small teach you what strength really means. Musically, it blends ambient guitars, heartbeat percussion, and cinematic builds—starting with soft tension and swelling into a soaring, choral climax.”
 
     In the opening minute of “Breathe Strong Little Fighter,” and in other parts of the track, the piano and vocals cooperatively alternate in occupying the spotlight while working toward a shared purpose of building beauty and life—in some ways similar to the sun and rain taking turns during the growth of a flower. The weave of piano and vocals possesses an emotional power that is soon complemented by the physical power of commanding percussion. Later in the song, guitar is the sonic drive.
 
     Still, the vocals and the lyrics are the highlight of the single from Vancouver's Into The Afterimage. RJay Dalton has a range, as well as an ease of travel through that range, not available to many vocalists. Our comparison is to Conor Mason, the lead of the UK-based band Nothing but Thieves. The full lyrics are included at the bottom of this post. But the verse that most deeply affects us is “Maybe this is love, to watch and not control // To break, but still believe you’ll breathe, you’ll grow.”
 
      Reading the band’s Spotify bio, we applaud “Into the Afterimage is the project delivering true ROI: Reality, Outrage, Inspiration. Everything else is just background noise,” and “We create music engineered for maximum impact, minimum filler, anthemic hooks, cinematic tension, and drops designed to rearrange your spine. We’re here to merge & mutate: emotionally, sonically, spiritually… and to make you feel at least 3.14% cooler just by having us on your playlist.”

     “Breathe Strong Little Fighter” by Into The Afterimage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582386311871#

Lyrics of “Breathe Strong Little Fighter” by Into The Afterimage
There’s a hole where the air should stay,
A siren that beeps with your name.
Numbers climb like prayers on the screen,
I count them just to keep me sane.
You move, the world restarts,
Every flicker a fragile art.
 
And I’d give every sleepless hour
To keep your breath from fading away.
 
Breathe on, little fighter
You’re wired to survive.
The room forgets its silence
Each time you open your eyes.
Where I swear I saw the night sky
Fill your fragile lungs tonight.
 
Feeding tubes and heartbeat songs,
Plastic halos that drum along.
You are proof that fear can sing
And mercy sometimes wears a machine.
We’re stitched between alarms and hope,
Learning how to go, but slow.
 
And I’d give every sleepless hour
To keep your breath from fading away.
 
Breathe on, little fighter
You’re wired to survive.
The world holds its breath
Each time you come alive.
Your ribs are drums, your veins are wires,
Oh and for you, sing all the choirs...
 
Maybe this is love
To watch and not control.
To break, but still believe
You’ll breathe, you’ll grow.
Every monitor’s a prayer,
Every sigh’s a vow.
If this is the edge,
Then teach me how to now.
 
Breathe strong, little fighter
You’ve already won.
The fear turns to faith
With each rise of your lungs.
Nice. Inquisitive. Kind.
Obliterates the impossible
One breath at a time...
 

“Fly” by Eric Silverman – A Song Feature

 

     It seems increasingly, songwriters are tucking a track’s greatest asset into the back pocket, saving it for the final stretch. In a streaming era of rapid-fire music exploration, that song composition approach carries a risk: listeners may render an early verdict and move on long before that strength ever reveals itself. But a musical beatitude is “Blessed are those who listen throughout, for they shall be rewarded from time to time.” The song “Fly” is certainly one of those times
 
     Patience isn’t a prerequisite for reaching the reward near the end of “Fly.” Eric Silverman’s single is engaging from the first moments, with the percussion immediately seizing the listener’s attention. Early on, there’s a captivating irregularity to the rhythm, while the chorus shifts to more conventional drum-set elements. The result is a percussive landscape that remains varied and compelling throughout.
 
     The vocals, tinged by an appealing megaphone effect, add another layer of intrigue. Though “Fly” isn’t a vocals-driven track, it still carries a distinct vocal personality—relaxed, but subtly urging the listener to lean in.
 
     Still, the true payoff arrives with the guitar solo around the 2:40 mark. The solo carries both the precision and the emotional fluency of Carlos Santana. For much of the solo, the guitar climbs in deliberate, stepped pitch ascensions, heightening its impact. Then around 3:26, the solo starts to drop in pitch.
 
     Eric Silverman is based in Oakland, California. “Fly” is a release via Oakland’s Royal Oakie Records. The song was produced, engineered, and mixed by Damien Lewis (Justin Timberlake, Rhianna, Lizzo), combining anthemic Indie Rock with Psychedelic Rock, Folk, and maybe a touch of Yacht Rock.
 
     As far as what the song means to him, Silverman says “I think at the time I was (and I guess still am) obsessed with the idea of changing, evolving, knowing that we are different everyday. So the song is in that spirit. Change or die. Worm to butterfly.”
 
     “Fly” by Eric Silverman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songsfromericsilverman/
Bandcamp: https://ericsilverman.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Fly” by Eric Silverman
The dreams are all the same
It happened once again
It’s like I’m falling
 
To look inside myself
And just see someone else
I come back crawling
 
We change or we will die
From worm to butterfly
We are evolving
 
The bodies in the sky
Give the universal sign
Don’t stop revolving
 
Fly
Fly
Fly
Fly
 
The sun sets in the sky
So morning tells you why
You will awaken
 
Embrace with the unknown
You struggle and you grow
Echoes forever
 
We change or we will die
From worm to butterfly
We are evolving
 
The bodies in the sky
Give the universal sign
Don’t stop revolving
 
Fly
Fly
Fly
Fly

Choir Assistance – The Last Dinner Party and Self Esteem

      In a single day, we were introduced to “Second Best” by The Last Dinner Party and a television performance of “Everybody Scream” from Florence and the Machine in which Florence Welch was backed by Deep Throat Choir. We were reminded of how much we enjoy the elegance of choirs incorporated into songs.
 
     Choir-backed songs in Rock date back to at least the 1960s. The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” provides a strong example. The following year, Melanie released “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).” More than 50 later, we featured “HUNTER (the cacophony)” by Paris Paloma (two weeks ago), a song featuring 250 fans providing the backing vocals.

     "Second Best" by The Last Dinner Party

     With the taste for choir-backed songs refreshed, we revisited the album “A Complicated Woman” by Self Esteem. For years, Rebecca Lucy Taylor was half of the duo Slow Club, but she now releases music under the name Self Esteem. Her album is populated with tracks benefitting from strong backing vocals. The concern is that many of the songs are sub-populated by F-bombs, references to problems with mutual oral sex, and other content not meant for the easily offended. Consider that the warning.

    “In Plain Sight” has three distinct segments. In the first, Self Esteem sets the table for the remainder. Then, Moonchild Sanelly presents a spoken-word description of the issue. The final segment is characterized by a crescendos of vocal elegance and vocal intensity. “What the fuck you want from me” has never been stated more tastefully.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RLTSELFESTEEM/
Website: https://www.selfesteem.love/

Lyrics of “In Plain Sight”
Call me anything you want
Call me anything you like
Time's not on my side
Twist it in me like a knife
Round the corners I divide
I will still survive
 
Let it go now
Just let it go
Let it go now
Let it go
 
We got teflon everywhere
They're kinda sorry, yeah, I care
'Bout what's happening next
If you take a moment, take a bow
While coughing blood, who's laughing now?
What's left to protect?
 
Let it go now
Just let it go
Let it go now
Please let it go
 
There's too much noise
From those that never knew me
Opinions from those I've touched
Who claim they know me
All alone in a crowd adorned yet nervous
Scared to speak, I shrink to keep the peace
Hoping I don't shake my purpose
Internally feeling like I'm broken pieces
My past, my presence, somehow connecting
Mirror mirror on wall, am I still the chosen one?
What will be of me if I speak my mind?
Can I still exist?
I know when I'm all alone
I sit in fear I've never known
The world saying who I am, but
I thought I knew myself all these years
Success creating the cell of the oppressed
My existence breaking barriers
And the rest are free
I'm never free to rest 'cause the free imprison me with their ideas
Expectations, opinions and guilt me into sticking to my effect on them
When I'm an entire well of knowledge
 
What the fuck you want from me?
I'm saving you, you're killing me
Won't you let me be?
I've always been free
[Repeating]
 
Let it go now
Just let it go
Let it go now
Just let it go
 
We are equals
But my default
Is to be neutral
I'll let it go
We are equals
But my default
Is to be neutral
Let it go

     “I Do and I Don’t Care” leads with the choir contributions, rather than requiring patience. Again, there is a spoken-word segment, but this one is more personally revealing and thought-provoking. 

Lyrics of “I Do and I Don’t Care”
I do and I don't care, I do and I don't care
I do and I don't care, I do and I don't care
I do and I don't care, I do and I don't care
I do and I don't care, I do and the joke's on you
'Cos you do
You do, don't you?
[Repeat]
 
"Be very careful what you wish for"
She said, looking at me all smug
Like she was the first person to say that
I'm not complaining
"I'm not complaining," I say
I'm whingeing in a new way
And as yet another person with a doctorate in 'Internet' diagnoses me with ADHD
I'm done, I don't care
But I do
I'm still fifteen years old surely?
The passing of time is only measured by the child you talk of
While I talk about mine, my childhood
The only child I know
I watch the biased cut movie on repeat in my head
It's still me, but in an old way
One day
One day you will see your reflection in the pub window
And you're smoking even though you've never been a smoker
And you'll think, "Fuck me
Is this really all there is?"
This really is all there is
And that's the thing you've got to get comfy with
We're not chasing happiness anymore, girls
We're chasing nothing
The great big still
The deep blue okay
And we're okay today
 
If I'm so empowered
Why am I such a coward?
If I'm so strong
Why am I broken?
If I'm so empowered
Why am I such a coward?
If I'm so strong
Why am I broken?
[Repeating]
 
I do and I don't care, I do and I don't care
I do and I don't care, I do and I don't care
I do and I don't care, I do and I don't care
I do and I don't care, I do and the joke's on you
'Cos you do
You do, don't you?

     “If Not Now, It’s Soon” holds a childlike quality. Of the tracks on “A Complicated Woman” this one is most suited for a Disney production, but it will never happen.

Lyrics of "If Not Now, It's Soon"
Everything you are, everything you see
Everyone got used to who you pretend to be
What if you're not scared, what if you're just here?
Another page is turned now, won't you stand on to see clearly now?
 
Only not too far, it all comes around
You wonder who it was who made the choices in that town
'Cause that was just still you, you're the sum of all these parts
And we can work together to become who's in your heart, I know
 
If not now, it's soon
And whatever is right for you
Will guide you through
Take it back to the beginning
If we still get on that feeling
Take it back to the beginning
If we still get on that feeling
 
Something will happen, because it's got to
It's not just perseverance we need, it's patience
 
And with all of life's complexities
How can one way become what we deem and believe
To be right to be true
Hold on
 
'Cause if not now, it's soon
And whatever is right for you
Will guide you through
Take it back to the beginning
If we still get on that feeling
When you just wanted to sing
You didn't know what that would bring
 
'Cause if not now, it's soon
Whatever is right for you
Will guide you through

      “The Deep Blue Okay” is instrumentally reminiscent of Florence and the Machine. The lyrics even mention “the machine.” The song has two features we love – the choir backing and a composition that approximates being a song-long crescendo (but there is an off-kilter slower conclusion).

Lyrics of Play "The Deep Blue Okay"
And another thing left that I need to say
I took a knife in case it was a home game
It was wrong and right
Did you expect I might be
On the way to enlighten yet another boy?
I had a clean girl brow
It was a little forced to be what I want
Whilst pleasing everyone
 
And you can sing!
And you can thrive!
And you could never say I didn't try
But it was for who I was and not who I'd become
So what's left? I hear you cry
It's just another new mountain to climb
But I know that at the top is where the next hill starts
 
And there is nowhere left for your head to turn
Yeah, there's nowhere left for your head to turn
History repeating
But without the learning
And yet they spend their energy
Coming for anybody
Who doesn't get it right
Who really gets it right?
And I'm a ghost
It's a machine
And now they're following where I've been
But what you looking for?
I'm just like you but boring
 
And in the end
I'm coming clean
I've spent my whole life lying
About the things I want
About the things I should have done
 
I'm inferior, you're the absolute
This has got everything and nothing to do with you
I've a house to buy
I've still got this fucked mind
And as another year turns around the bend
As I nudge out yet another friend
It's still hard out here
But, fuck, I'll just keep going
 
And I'm alone
At least for now
'Cos I can never dumb myself down
I just know way too much
To ever fall in love
But the idea's good
I see where you're all coming from
 
So I'll roll on unmerrily
On the way to make another wedding about me
I've got boundaries plenty
But they're just so tiring
So I pick and choose what is fine to lose
I don't care about much but I care about you
You're the only one who I'm still writing songs for
And I'm on edge
I make it work
I know that digging in the dirt
Is how someone like me gets there eventually
 
And, yeah, there's shame that I'm not okay
But the Deep Blue's there inside of me
And I have my doubts
But know I'll always work it out
 
You'll always work it out
 
And another thing left that I need to say
Y'know what? I might try today
I might fucking try today
Try today
Try today
Another thing left that I need to say
Y'know what? I might try today
I might fucking try today
Try today
Try today
 
It's all mine to lose
She says, "Babe, you got this"
But what does that mean?
I guess I've got something
It's all mine to lose
She says, "Babe, you got this"
But what does that mean?
I guess I've got something

“Salt the Earth” by White Birches – A Song Feature

 

     Seldom is the plea for a lasting relationship rendered with the kind of darkness that haunts “Salt the Earth.” The soundscape conveys the sense of an apocalyptic world in which steam industry dominates human existence. There are hints of hope, such as the “lighter” instrumentation at the exit from a delicate vocal-heavy segment at the 3:30 mark. But darkness rules the song from White Birches.

 

     The lyrics of “Salt the Earth” are included at the bottom of this post. The protagonist provides the roadmap for entering the relationship, including “Fall for me, let your world be shattered.” And then clearly states that when the dust has settled, “We will salt the earth.” It’s interesting that the closely constructed phrase “salt of the earth” is a compliment to identify a person who is fundamentally honest and reliable, while to “salt the earth” is a practice of conquerors who sow salt over conquered lands to reduce the chances of land rehabilitation. The protagonist in the White Birches’ song is not particularly interested in the future of the land.

 

     “Salt the Earth" is a track from the upcoming third album by White Birches. The album, ”A New Reign,” is scheduled for release on November 21. The years since their previous album have been marked by personal losses, a pandemic, grief, and a fractured world. But it has been a time for reflection and songwriting, resulting in “A New Reign” being a more personal album, yet with the same striking intensity.

 

     White Birches consist of Jenny Gabrielsson Mare, who handles vocals, guitar, and piano, and Fredrik Jonasson, who works with synths, drum machines, and keys. The duo is based in Stockholm, Sweden. While talking about their upcoming album, Jenny shared:

  ”I wanted to challenge myself as both a singer and an artist. Writing about difficult themes means daring to rest in difficult places. But even though the album is dark, there is still room for some form of solace.”

 
     “Salt the Earth” by White Birches

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitebirches
Website: https://www.whitebirches.se/

Lyrics of “Salt the Earth” by White Birches
To tear, to harm, and to wound
To scar, to wreck, and to ruin
 
To burn, to break, and to decay
To wilt, to ache, and to succumb, and to succumb
 
Fall for me, let your heart surrender and just
Fall for me, let your world be shattered, simply
Fall for me, and when the dust has settled
We will salt the earth
[Repeat]
 
To rise, to mend, and to prevail
To heal, rebuild, and to stay, dare to stay
 
I bear these scars, this ruptured heart
A Phoenix trapped, caught in the ashes
The ruins tell the tales of the fallen
The wreckage sounds the fate of lovers
 
Fall for me, let your heart surrender and just
Fall for me, let your world be shattered, simply
Fall for me, and when the dust has settled
We will salt the earth
[Repeat]
 
To rise, to mend, and to prevail
To heal, rebuild, and to stay

“Ain't The One” by VANILLA.6 – A Song Feature

 

      “Ain't The One” has the start of a synth-driven weather front that is warm but lyrically overcast. There is some accuracy to that early forecast. But when the guitar enters, the single from VANILLA.6 reveals its true identity - this is a multidimensional system in which components gust in and out of dominance. Thus, at the 46-second mark, the percussion begins its assertive push for some attention and, with some assistance, temporarily claims control after the chorus closes at 1:02.
 
     Still, the most appealing segment of “Ain't The One” awaits. At 2:49, the multidimensionality reaches the vocals. Although the lyrics become difficult to decipher (the lyrics are included in this post), the vocal dynamics are commanding and the production mastery deserves applause. The vocals have the feel of a call-and-response sequence, but call-and-echo sensibilities are probably a more accurate description.
 
     VANILLA.6 was established in Japan by ook-boy (composer/songwriter) in 2015. Based on “Ain’t The One,” it isn’t surprising that their sound is described as “New- Pop aesthetics with the mixture soundscape of New-Wave, Post-Punk, Shoegazer, 80’s/90’s Pops and the visual design of mode, new-wave, street presentation.”  A self-titled album was released in 2020 after being recorded as a Rock band. In comparison, the recently released 14-track album, "LAST DANCE," was produced in the UK, the new home for the band, as composer ook-boy's solo project. About the album:
  “[LAST DANCE] further deepens and expands the band's musical and lyrical worldview. Featuring eight new, high-energy tracks that bring to mind new elements of bass music, soul, and R&B, as well as complete reproductions of six of the band's signature tracks, including ‘90's Milan’ and ‘OWLS.’  This 14-track album is a fitting culmination of the band's history and evolution, marking their 10th anniversary. 
 
     “Ain't The One” by VANILLA.6

Bandcamp: https://vanilla-6.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanilla.6/
Album streaming: https://linkco.re/QSVpnCre?lang=en

Lyrics of “Ain't The One” by VANILLA.6
About to lose my mind for hallucinations
You dragged me with your lick into your bedroom, again
No way to get out of this obsession
Just gimme some more clue of your intentions
 
Or end me now
Can’t deal with love like you do
So end me now
Don’t take my fire for fun
I ain’t the one
 
About to lose my mind for hallucinations
You dragged me with your lick into your bedroom, again
No way to get out of this obsession
Just gimme some more clue of your intentions
 
Or end me now
Can’t deal with love like you do
So end me now
Don’t take my fire for fun
I ain’t the one
 
I ain’t the one
I ain’t the one
 
Shockwave of the scent you wear
Lip mark on the frosted lights
Drop your martini glass
You got me too high on you
 
Or end me now
Can’t deal with love like you do
So end me now
Don’t take my fire for fun
Already know that I ain’t the one

“Private” by The Neighbourhood – A Song Feature

 

     The vocals were recorded using a phone and the rhythmic sensibilities derive from a GarageBand drum break. This is not the typical formula for a song that grabs our attention. But “Private” first demands and then commands attention. It is a single from “(((((ultraSOUND))))),” the album from The Neighbourhood (released date is November 14). The song is about keeping a relationship private (the lyrics are at the bottom of this post).
 
     The Neighbourhood are a California-based alternative rock band comprised of Jesse Rutherford, Zach Abels, Brandon Fried, Jeremy Freeman, and Mikey Margott. Regarding the soon-to-be-released album, the press materials share:
   “Blending the raw energy of '90s alt-rock with a modern, introspective edge, ‘(((((ultraSOUND)))))’ signals a powerful return to the band's roots. Drawing inspiration from Brit-pop while maintaining their signature California Indie sound, the record weaves together delicate yet gritty vocals with a darker, moodier sonic palette. Elements of Grunge and Psychedelic textures add depth to a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly evolved. Lyrically, the album is intimate and self-aware, exploring heartbreak, disillusionment, and emotional vulnerability with a maturity that reflects the band's artistic growth.”
 
     “Private” by The Neighbourhood

Lyrics of “Private” by The Neighbourhood
You radiate, in shades of grey
Disintegrate, 'til it fades away
Not gonna change your mind when it's made
Bent out of shape, age
 
Keepin' it private
Uh-huh
Shh, keepin' it private
Uh-huh
Shh, keepin' it private
(Ultrasound)
Uh-huh
 
You've got a way, contagious in a room (room)
Hallucinate, when I'm dancin' with you (ooh)
All that it takes is a taste
And we'll know what we should do
Too soon to say, better behave
 
Shh, keepin' it private (ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Uh-huh (ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Shh, keepin' it private (ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Uh-huh (ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Shh, keepin' it private (ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Uh-huh (ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Shh, keepin' it private (ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Uh-huh (ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
 
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Why does it feel like we're hiding?
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Why does it feel like we're hiding?
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Why does it feel like we're hiding?
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah
Why does it feel like we're hiding?

“HUNTER (the cacophony)” by Paris Paloma – A Song Feature

 

     No argument, we are partial to songs in which a choir provides backing vocals, as well as tracks with lyrical overlaps. Paris Paloma reimaged “hunter” from her 2024 album “Cacophany.” To distinguish the two versions, the title went from all lowercase letters to all caps. Musically, the difference is the contributions of the voices of 250 fans as support for the message of empowerment. Paloma did the same with the song “LABOUR (the cacophony),” a more polarizing single (similar to “Good Boy”). She does not shy away from voicing her perceptions.
 
    In talking about “HUNTER (the cacophony),” London-based Paris Paloma shared:
  “Once again it’s been so emotional to hear the voices of hundreds of fans coming together to join me on a new Cacophony version of this song, ‘Hunter’ is one of the most personal songs on the album, it’s a story of the internal triumph over darkness and pain at one of the most mentally turbulent times in my life. Seeing people relate to this song, to come out in force to sing it with me feels so powerful, and a testament to the strength of so many people who find my music resonates with them, it makes me feel so empowered and proud.”
 
     “HUNTER (the cacophony)” by Paris Paloma

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Lyrics of “HUNTER (the cacophony)” by Paris Paloma
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
 
If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already
 
What was it that stayed my hand then?
With dagger held unsheathed
Blade pointing in its side
I’d been set upon by a predator
It was just looking for a meal
I saw ribs and fearful eyes
 
What is it that stays my hand now?
With so much misery
That I could mercifully put end to
For that animal I let slink off
Into the undergrowth, unscathed
Do I not fear death, but just pretend to?
 
For it was starving
It was hungry
But had eyes too close to let me
If you were easy to kill, I would have done it already
 
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
 
Plagued by phantom noises
That that skeletal beast
Was haunting all my steps
 
Questioning all my choices
With that dagger held unsheathed
I felt sick at my contempt
 
For you were lonely
You were like me
Like some outside force had sent me
If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already
 
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
 
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You are at my feet and we’re by the fire
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You’re a gentle beast and I’m alive
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You are at my feet and we’re by the fire
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You’re a gentle, purring beast and I’m alive
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You are at my feet and we’re by the fire
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You’re a healthy, gentle, purring beast and I’m alive
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You are at my feet and we’re by the fire
(If I was easy to kill, you would have done it already)
You’re a healthy, gentle, purring beast and I’m alive
 
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
Ahhhh ahh ah ah
 
If you were easy to kill, I would have done it already