We have been following Karen Harding’s artistic journey for a while now. Of course, it was hard to miss: her signature intimate Folk tones have been a pleasure to reckon with, together with honest, authentic lyricism that doesn’t shy away from describing her own personal struggles and challenges. Now, Harding reaches a new milestone, thanks to the release of a beautiful EP, ‘I’ve Got A Secret’.
The Melbourne resident has been sensibly uncovering the record gradually, giving us one track per month. In fact, it was not long ago when we were writing about ‘Drive Away’ – the third track of the EP. We proudly declared: “To be able to sit in front of a mic with nothing but a guitar in hand is something a large portion of musicians would shy away from, but Karen looks as though she has just returned home.”
Today, ‘Letter To My Friend’ closes the circle, handing over the EP to history. Perhaps one of the most poignant tunes of the record, the track doubles down on the project’s strengths: a timeless acoustic guitar, drenched in reverb, provides a feeble but solid frame for Harding’s evocative, charming vocals, slowly making their way into relatable storytelling and suggestive imagery. Eventually, there’s a small cinematic intervention, with a strings section adding pathos to an already heartwrenching piece.
Lyrically, ‘Letter To My Friend’ wants to recall its author’s experience of the pandemic, and the process of dealing with painful news. As Harding explains: “This song was my way of processing the emotions that I was feeling and led me to the point where I could see their strength in overcoming these challenges.”
We are glad the EP is out. But more importantly, we are grateful to Harding for sharing her artistry with us.
Recommended! Discover ‘I’ve Got A Secret’ EP on Spotify:
