Francisco Sola - “Safe Place”

As a means to escape the chaos of the world, Francisco Sola offers music lovers a “Safe Place.”

It’s no secret that we’ve long been fans of Sola’s often stripped-back and heartfelt songwriting and with “Safe Place,” listeners receive exactly that. The track begins with some gently strummed acoustic guitar, setting a very lovely, chill mood that very easily puts the soul at ease. It’s the perfect vibe as we are forced to say farewell to another summer before inviting all the beauty of the approaching autumn.

Much akin to some of our favorite artists from the genre, such as Bon Iver and Novo Amor, Sola has utilized a doubled vocal, resulting in quite the captivating sonic experience. This is the very technique that we wish more songwriters would take advantage of, especially in these more sparse recordings, where the use of effects is simply not appropriate. And, quite frankly, if it was good enough for John Lennon, we’re not sure why other artists seem to forgo it altogether.

Various morsels of ear candy are sprinkled throughout “Safe Place,” beginning with some soft, ethereal keys, as well as some layers of graceful backing vocals. For most of the track’s duration, percussion is kept to a bare minimum, with just enough to move the song forward via what appears to be a woodblock. But at the three-minute mark, the production expands substantially, incorporating a deep kick drum and some low, round notes from a bass to comprise a perfect outro.

This is the fourth time that we’ve featured Francisco Sola on the blog, and if he keeps releasing songs like “Safe Place,” we guarantee that it will not be the last.

-HD