Sofia Machray - Single Review: The Untold
Wellington’s “singer-songwriter gone rogue”, Sofia Machray, crafts a spacious indie ballad with her latest release, The Untold. The track is highly reminiscent of bands like Daughter and Placebo, the former of which Machray cites as an influence.
Opening with hushed finger-picked guitar and subtle percussion, Machray’s unique accented voice quickly becomes the highlight of The Untold. Machray boasts an interesting vocal range which skips between childishly delightful highs to lilting, murky lows. Her complex lyrics are deeply insightful, exploring the complicated realities of the world and facing up to life’s most confronting situations. The curious imagery Machray emphasises, mentioning her “brittle bones”, “luminous light” and the “thunderstorms” she faces, add to the song’s intricate and ethereal soundscape, although her enunciation occasionally obscures some of the most thought-provoking lines.
Instrumentally, The Untold bursts with the thrilling sound of a real band. Moments of squeaking guitars and lingering drums ground the track and do wonders for invoking its intense level of emotion. At its climax, Machray howls over an array of whining electrics, highlighting her dynamic control and power in structuring a song to best convey its feeling.
What shines most brightly in this latest tune from Sofia Machray is her well-rounded musicianship. With a clear understanding of songwriting and instrumentation, The Untold presents Machray as a force to be reckoned with, and an artist who will be even more gripping under the spotlights of the stage when she next performs.
About Sofia Machray
The quality of instrumentation mixed with Machray's uniquely raw vocal style evokes emotion within listeners allowing them to relate and reminisce with songs that are timeless. Sofia has truly hit the ground running, with a large focus on crafting atmospheric music and an indicate finger picking style on guitar. Sofia has since expanded her repertoire of original music and is now in the process of recording various singles with support from her band for release in 2020, making her a must-see on the indie-pop scene.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Sofia Machray
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