If you have ever found yourself wanting to be transported to a magical world (preferably by fairies), “Herald” by Odette is the song for you. It is from the Australian electronic artist’s new album of the same title, released just this year in February. New sounds like that of “Herald” are so exciting to hear at the beginning of the year as indie music goes through its yearly metamorphosis— these artists contribute to the future of its sound through their own voices and perspectives. Now that is artistry.
Odette guides us through the magical fairyland that is “Herald” with a progressively building sound. New instruments come in as the melody ascends into these magical heavens, effortlessly creating the kind of tension that enchants the listener smoothly and spellbindingly. “Herald our divine” is just that— with mystical harp and a drum beat that sounds like footsteps through an ancient forest.
The magic of this song is not only in the instrumentation itself, but it also rules the kingdom of lyrical imagery. “But I lay to the standstill tempo of your heartbeat. You were curled over like a leaf about to fall free,” presents a beautiful image of nature and a parallel image to a love that is about to end. In Odette’s own words, Herald was “about my realisation of interpersonal toxicity and a yearning for something more”. The lyrics stay true to this message, exploring it both explicitly and abstractly, casting a fairy circle around its listener.
The thing about fairy circles is, once you enter one, you can never leave. The same is true with “Herald” by Odette— once you’ve heard it, you’ll never listen to music the same way.
Written by Lola Works
Velvet Noise 