Velvet Halo has brought us a soulful exploration of what it means to be human with their latest self-titled EP “Velvet Halo”. This soft pop project is the brainchild of LA-based singer/songwriter Justina Shandler and Oregon-based multi-instrumentalist David Thiele. Over 18 minutes this duo will have you captivated and enchanted with their musical wizardry and have you excited for what they will put out next!
Opening on “Words Fail” you are introduced to the general vibe and mood of this EP with Justina lending her warm and expressive vocals to take us on an emotional journey over three minutes. This song perfectly captures the emotion and helplessness of feeling overcome with emotion and being unable to express yourself. Transitioning into “Fool Again”, you are met with the natural progression of the themes and groove from the strong opening of this EP to an incredibly vulnerable and atmospheric track that amazingly extends upon the listening experience you have had so far. Both of these tracks are two of the three singles off this EP and they stand strong as independent works of art, but within the context of the entire body of work are elevated to new heights. The third and final single off this album is “Warm Night” and it is the first duet off this experience with a distinctly more bouncy rhythm with more eclectic whimsy and emotion pumped into the melody. This song is the stand-out of this album and my favourite track. The penultimate song of this experience “Nothing Left” wastes no time getting started and throws you right into the mix with Justina’s vocals opening this track. This song is the dreamiest of the bunch and will leave you feeling light like a feather blowing in the gentle wind. Closing out this experience is “Find Me” which is the distinctly most energetic track off this EP that ends this experience on a hopeful note that leaves you craving nothing more than to hit the replay button and experience this musical mastery all over again.
Every song on this experience blends and has something new and potent to say on this EP. This body of work is not just an achievement in musicianship, but one of production finesse and songwriting talent as well this EP does not lack in any measure and is holistically brilliant. Velvet Halo has hit a major home run and made a bold statement that is sure to make waves in the soft pop scene. So go give it a listen and show Velvet Halo some much-deserved love and support!
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