Laura Lucas - “Valentine’s”

Photo by Claire Warren

Canada-born, Australia-based singer-songwriter Laura Lucas returns to the blog with “Valentine’s,” a vulnerable, stripped-back journey through uncertainty.

This track’s melancholic mood is instantly set by a gently finger-plucked acoustic guitar, so raw that it sounds as though it was simply removed from its case and set to tape. For those of you who have ever attempted to mic an acoustic, this is often one of the most difficult sounds to achieve, and “Valentine’s” warms you up with a rich, vibrant tone before the lyrics arrive to knock the emotional wind from your lungs.

Lucas’ vocal then appears, layered in a delicate harmony that adds an immediate thickness to the sparse arrangement. And although, at this point, it is just guitar and vocals, the song has no trouble with completely saturating the sonic space, filling your ears with the “tension between wanting something and being afraid of it at the same time.” “Valentine’s” is an exemplar of the magic that can occur by simply adding a vocal harmony, resulting in something we could listen to on a loop until the end of time.

As the song continues, the production welcomes a glorious string arrangement. And while the track is void of any bass or percussive elements, the end result is a robust soundscape that will work its way beneath your skin and force you to take an introspective look at your own heart.

“Valentine’s” comes from Laura Lucas’ upcoming EP, The Dreamer, due to be released on December 8th.

-HD