Drawing you into its moody, introspective atmosphere, ‘Lettres sous la pluie’ by Leyla Romanova will have you imagining yourself as a character in a retro film, walking through a cloudy day in Paris.
The sound that the track takes on is a jazz inspired one, with intentional spaces and gaps, which allows for the reflective soundscape to take hold and solidify. The song starts off gentle and stays gentle throughout, even as it builds and adds layers onto itself. The chorus section is where the song gets fuller and textured. The different layers come together beautifully, in a way that each instrument can be distinctly heard. The instrumentation has been arranged in a way that will have you close your eyes and imagine yourself walking upon Parisian cobblestoned paths.
There is an achingly beautiful melancholia that breathes through the song, and you cannot help but feel yourself taking it all in. A certain level of cinematic-ness and theatricality is weaved into the song, resulting in a quiet and depth laden grandiosity. Romanova’s vocals are beyond gorgeous, and they feel like an instrument in themselves. The vocals carry the weight of the emotions in an ethereal manner. After listening to this track you will definitely find yourself looking up the rest of Romanova’s discography because she is simply that good. If songs that are centred around cities and their characteristics is something that piques your interest, this song is the perfect choice for that. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking up flights to Paris when the last note of the song plays out.