When we heard ‘Awaken’, we took some time to get to know the track in its entirety. The debut of talented singer and songwriter Emily May, the track manages to echo the past while building the future. Let us explain: on one side, you’ll meet strong Amy Winehouse-like vibes, mirrored in the drum machine-style beat stacked against jazzy electric guitars and soulful vocals. But – at a deeper look, you’ll also find ethereal vocals, darker moments and a refined sense of pop lyricism, helping place the record into a more contemporary setting.
If you think about it, May makes her debut the right way: by channelling and celebrating history while moving towards innovation. What’s more, ‘Awaken’ provides the perfect framework for the young British’s evocative and refined vocals – intense yet controlled, capable of impressive dynamic modulation.
Lyrically, the song acts as a personal empowering anthem, channelling May’s past experiences and sharing them with the listener. As Emily herself explains: “I wrote the song about realising that most of what you fear is just in your head and not in reality, also that your brain can make you believe things which aren’t real. It’s about realising that these anxieties exist in your head and are not actually in the present. I have had some dark years battling with my brain but this song is about being in a better place and not feeding into the lies.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Awaken’ on Spotify:
