néomí - “garden”
Once again, Surinamese/Dutch singer-songwriter Neomi Speelman, aka néomí, appears on our blog. And this time, she arrives beholding a stripped-back arrangement and a great sea of emotion with her latest single, “garden.”
A soft synth pad rounds out the atmosphere as glorious keys from a piano permeate the soundscape. The mood is reflective and slightly melancholic and for good reason– néomí crafted “garden” as an ode to her grandfather and his battle with Alzheimer’s.
It is impossible to hear this song and not be flooded with intense sentiment, and as néomí begins her transcendent vocal delivery, we are reminded of why we became such big fans of hers in the first place– first with “oh my darling,” then with “your girl.” She has been blessed with a voice that masterfully guides listeners to feel exactly what she wants them to feel.
Please do not be fooled by the idea of “garden” being a piano ballad– the song is filled to its brim with wondrous bouts of ear candy. From the ethereal layers of vocal harmonies, to the rolling and pulsating tones from the synths and strings, this track has absolutely no problem saturating the sonic space.
All of these fantastic sounds ultimately culminate in a tremendous crescendo, rising and washing over the production and capsizing our emotions. “garden” is going to move you– it will likely wreck you– but you will find yourself returning to it, over and over again.
-HD