Brooklyn indie-folk singer-songwriter Olivia Reid further solidifies her status as a soft-spoken storyteller with her latest single, "Serene," from her new EP, "Space to Roam." Conceived during an immersive artist residency in the verdant Polish countryside, Reid's music stands as a balm for the overactive brain, a pause for you to take a breath and immerse yourself in the simplicity of the moment.
"Serene" is evidence of Reid's ability to forge heartfelt lyricism with a plangent, folkish sense of melody. The gentle state of the track, which channels indie folk, folk-pop, and indie-pop, feels like a sunbeam encapsulated in sound. In it, Reid personifies the sun as the feminine force, "Serene," spinning a fragile tale of longing, openness, and redemption. She begs the sun to stay and talks in paradoxes about its ability to burn and heal, a metaphor that resonates with anyone who understands the bitter salve of being emotionally laid bare.
The arrangement of the song is purposefully bare, an effort by Reid to give her voice and her lyrics some space. Soft guitar plucks, demure percussion, and faint ambient textures encase the track in a cocoon, one that provides space for rumination. It's music that implores stillness, a reminder that some of the most profound experiences come not from intensity, but from a quiet, mindful focus. "Serene" doesn't try to be seen, but invites you in from its own quiet center, something to feel good around, rather than feel around.
"Space to Roam", Reid's EP, of which "Serene" is the latest standout, indeed offers "soft songs for the soul." Especially intimate and natural, each track dials into places where introspection is a welcome tenant, as well as inside places of profound beauty, as Reid invites you on an observational journey through both real and emotional landscapes. It's music meant to be felt, not just heard, and it creates time and space for thinking, healing, and self-discovery.
On "Serene," Olivia Reid shows indie folk can still wield tremendous power in its quietness. She is the voice that reminds us that music can decelerate our hearts, calm our minds, and link us to some of the elemental forces all around us, like the sun, warmth, and the silent glories of the simple act of being. For anyone seeking a peaceful and uplifting soundtrack amidst life's chaos, "Serene" offers a shining invitation to pause, contemplate, and simply be.
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