Uwade - ‘Harmattan’
Following on from the cerebral and swirling ‘Call It A Draw’, Uwade’s latest teaser from her upcoming record comes in the neatly wrapped soulful intonations of ‘Harmattan’. Steeped in nostalgia and an homage to her Nigerian roots, the track reflects on her late-fathers musical habits in immersive percussion.
Having made her initial fame from her work with the indie-folk outfit Fleet Foxes (contributing vocals to their Grammy-nominated record ‘Shore’), Uwade has carved out her own space in the alternative pop scene with her emphatic blend of soul and blues.
Talking on the track, Uwade notes: “"For a long time, this song was a giant puzzle. I couldn’t figure out lyrics, a compelling arrangement, or how to transform it from the earliest stages of the demo to what it is now… ‘Will you sway with me when my voice gives out?’ Is one of my favorite lyrics on Florilegium. Writing it helped me to unravel a huge knot of anxiety around being a musician that I’d been dealing with for some time. I don’t think there’s an answer, but I’m ok with that for now."
With the song’s creative cycle mirrored in its subject matter – a back and forth of unanswered questions (“will we be forgotten? Never mind / doesn’t matter at all”). Accepting uncertainty is veined throughout and complemented with a sweet vocal performance that forgoes despondency for soaring, euphoric melodies. Harking similarities to Cleo Sol and Arlo Parks, ‘Harmattan’ is an impressive offering from Uwade, and holds itself as a standout track from her impressive discography.
‘Florilegium’ is out April 25th via Ehiose Records / Thirty Tigers.
Words by Lana Williams
