A meaningful, nuanced single, ‘Letters From You’ sees Jamie Shew paying a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother, uncovering hidden, yet obvious solitude and drawing parallels with her own reality. The American songstress makes good use of her evocative, stunning vocals, packing the record with an incredibly elegant and majestic aura. There’s a hint of sadness, yet the overall sensation is not one of melancholic resentment, but of hopeful compassion.
Framed into a jazzy, soulful piece, ‘Letters From You’ is truly acoustic in its sonic ethos, with a charming, warm piano and polite drums providing the perfect counterpoint to Shew’s luscious songwriting. A double bass and a guitar complete the lineup. It’s interesting though – the song is in itself pretty pop-lenient, certainly relatable and approachable. The niche arrangement elevates the composition to higher cultural grounds.
Firstly wanting to deliver a positive, uplifting homage to her grandmother, Jamie settled on a more purposeful direction once realising that the reality had been somewhat different. As she so eloquently explains: “As I recalled her eccentric habits – like hoarding toilet paper, love for Kmart blue light special shopping, and fascination with Johnny Carson – I realized how deeply lonely she was, despite her strong love for family. The song explores the parallel between our lives.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Letters From You’ on Spotify:
