Review: Sahara Beck's new single 'Stillness' is both enchanting and subconsciously melancholic
Queensland, Australia’s indie songwriter Sahara Beck makes for a unique musical experience with her renowned powerful vocals and gorgeous stylings. With multiple placings in the International Songwriting Competition, as well as the Nashville-based Unsigned Only Competition, proves that Sahara has made herself known as quite the force to be reckoned with during her nearing decade in the music industry.
With countless radio and written support across the globe, including influential stations such as FluxFM Germany and Radio Alternative Rock Brazil, Sahara has set an astounding backbone for the release of her newest single ‘Stillness.’
From the get-go, 'Stillness' instrumentally carries a low buzz that almost subconsciously pays homage to the literal stillness of time, somewhat comparable to an older television flicking between moments of static. This tense, slow frequency paired with a steady drum beat hums along like a beating heart, dipping between more erratic and calming moments sure to get your heart a little flustered too. Whilst keeping a more minimal, impactful soundscape, Sahara layers only a thumping bassline and whimsical guitar plucks over the top of the aforementioned instrumentals as to draw almost the entirety of your attention to her double-edged vocal tone. Littered with both a sweetness in her higher notes, and a subtle undertone of melancholy, the true lead in this striking single is Sahara's vocal approach that's sure to lead you through her narrative like a siren leading you to your unavoidable doom.
When considering the vulnerable and personal meanings behind 'Stillness', this duplicitous sound makes much more sense as the track presents itself to be an endearing indie-pop whirlwind that when focusing on the lyricism at hand proves itself to be so much more. Exploring her own struggles with mental health, and particularly panic attacks that ties exceptionally with her leading drum beats, Sahara utilises this new single as a way to heal from her struggles whilst allowing her audience to feel a little less alone in their own difficulties. With such a vastly interpretable sound and lyrical narrative, we were impressed considerably by the way this enchanting single demonstrates Sahara's talents in phrasing such dark experiences in a way that serves to leave you questioning the deeper meaning behind each word. Particularly one of the opening lines, 'Traffic on the street, traffic on my mind, traffic in my soul, the street's going to swallow me up whole' leaves you with a handful of questions between each line, wondering the situations leading her to this busy highstreet and whether any one moment inspired the correlations between the thoughts in her head.
For your own emotionally touching experience amongst a sense of hope and tranquility, make sure to check out ‘Stillness’ for yourself here!
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
Photo Credits: Michelle Pitiris
