Josephine - “How I Love You”

Photo by Francisco A. Arreguin

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Josephine arrives on our blog with her brand new, emotionally-charged single: “How I Love You.”

The atmospheric sounds of a synth gently fade in before a retro-imbued guitar softly fills the sonic space. Josephine’s delicate vocal promptly appears, vibrantly displaying fragments of her love language. The arrangement is stripped-back and raw, perfectly demonstrating the feelings we often attempt to give someone in hopes of some semblance of reciprocation.

It is immediately clear that “How I Love You” belongs on every playlist that centers around the sheer agony of unrequited love or the unfortunate demise of a relationship. If you’re not completely moved by Josephine’s vibrato, we are quite confident that her breathy falsetto will successfully remove whatever’s left of your heart.

More elements arrive as the song enters its glorious crescendo, with a thick coat of reverb to provide an ethereal, dreamlike feel to the production. Flourishes of distant, resounding guitar swell and resonate throughout the track, ultimately leading to the emergence of the rhythm section. Even as the arrangement becomes populated with sounds, the emotional bones refuse to bend.

This is our first time hearing from Josephine, but if she keeps releasing songs like “How I Love You,” we hope that it’s not the last.

-HD