Ayia Gold - “Apple Trees”

If this is the first time you’re hearing about Ayia Gold, we must warn you: pressing play on her new tack, “Apple Trees,” will cause you to play her entire catalogue and there’s a chance you will never be the same again.

“Apple Trees” is a purely divine, piano-driven ballad that is so raw and sparse, you will swear it’s being performed right in front of you. For the majority of the song, it’s just the listener, the piano, and Ayia’s vocal, and please believe us when we say that, in this case, it is more than enough. Oftentimes, we receive stripped-back recordings where the performer does not take full advantage of all the sonic space that is available. But with “Apple Trees,” Ayia has such control over her voice that it shapes the entire production, from softly incorporating a breathy vibrato, to climbing into her powerful upper register.

The performance is very intimate, almost as though it was recorded while everyone else in the house was sleeping. But there are fantastic moments, such as around the two-minute mark, where Ayia weaves in her harmonies, extending the sound in all directions. This, in combination with the piano’s sustain and reverberation, is more than enough to make listening to “Apple Trees” an extremely full and worthwhile experience. And, of course, one of our favorite aspects of this performance is that there is no room for autotune and no place for fancy production to hide.

If you’re in the market for moody, stripped-back dream pop, you’ve come to the right place. Give Ayia Gold’s “Apple Trees” a spin immediately.

-TM