With her new single, "Fool For A Lie," emerging artist Brynja Rán has stripped back the emotional fabric to unveil a layered, genre-blurring sound steeped in heartbreak and haunted harmony. It's the third single from the imminent EP "7," once again, it's another assured step forward into her neo-classical take on the area between Contemporary R&B and Adult Contemporary or Neo-Soul.
"Fool For A Lie" explores being deceived, hiding truthfulness in polished production, and making conscious melodic decisions. The instrumentation slides comfortably between plush neo-soul textures and modern R&B frills. The type of track to close your eyes and just zone out to is excellent for a late-night drive or to take a pondering moment out of your day.
Brynja Rán's voice is something you feel. Her quiet storm delivery brings to mind the emotional rawness of Amy Winehouse, the dreamy introspection of Lana Del Rey, and the intimate stylings of Billie Eilish. But despite her obvious influences, Brynja's sound is all her own. It's soulful without being slavish to the past, honest without beating you over the head with it.
"Fool For A Lie" is special in its cross-genre potential and the honesty at its core. There's no indication here of hounding the latest trends. Instead, Brynja Rán is carving out a niche, one soulful song at a time. Brynja knows when to rein back and allow the feeling to resonate, a delicate touch that takes years to master. This person who's lived with music appreciates how combining music and lyrics can communicate on a deeper, more immersive level than words alone.
Her EP "7" sounds more and more interesting with every release. Based on "Fool For A Lie," if it's anything to go by, Brynja Rán is creating a profoundly personal and aurally lush project that will engage simultaneously at an intimate level and with the broader world. For lovers of soul-drenched storytelling and evergreen melodies, Brynja Rán is an artist to watch.