From Julia Traser‘s forthcoming debut album, the Brighton-based singer-songwriter shares her tender and reflective new single ‘Hi You’. This is such an endearing introduction to an artist who skilfully connects personal memories with universal motifs of belonging, home and identity. In this case, this song relates the experience of visiting her grandparents’ holiday home in Lake Como where both the nostalgia of childhood joy and bittersweet reminder of what’s been lost converge.
Traser carefully handles the warm yet fragile reveries connected with that special family place through her aching lyrics; these bittersweet reflections convey the pain of saying goodbye, not only to a physical location, but also to everything that it symbolises. This insightful narrative is also mirrored in the track’s warm folk-pop sound led by Traser‘s baritone ukulele and with undertones of breezy bossanova textures. It’s understated and controlled, but with that comes a quiet strength. One can’t help but think of artists like the ukulele-wielding Dodie Clark or the folk-pop heroine KT Tunstall.
As much as this project is spearheaded by this independent songwriter, she also leans on a talented circle of musicians and creatives to help bring her sonic visions to life. In ‘Hi You’, the layered arrangement is built from the contributions from Fin Anderson (drums), Leo Aram Downs (nylon guitar, mandolin), Megan Tuck (backing vocals), Shaz D (keys), and Kenji Lee (bass), and all is given the finishing touch from producer Adrian Bunn.
Although ‘Hi You’ is rooted in memories of the past, it’s not trapped there as Julia Traser‘s songwriting carries a sense of renewal, of joy, and of looking forward. It’s a uniquely authentic perspective wrapped in comforting folk-pop tones. We seriously can’t wait to hear what else she has in store for her debut album Perfect Timing.
You can also listen to ‘Hi You’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
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