Rosie H Sullivan - “Lights”
Rosie H Sullivan comes to us from the Isle of Lewis, Scotland with her latest single, “Lights.” Quite honestly, this song is the epitome of indie folk and exactly what we imagine when we consider the genre. It’s magnificently raw and spacious, beginning with just an acoustic guitar and Sullivan’s soft and emotional vocal work– oftentimes, just slightly more audible than a whisper.
As the track progresses, the listener will find some additional orchestral instrumentation, including cello by Rachel Wilson, as well as calculated vocal harmonization. If you’ve been reading the blog, you’ll know that one of our favorite aspects of this genre is its ability to fill the sonic space without any fancy production or effects– plus, you will not find any evidence of autotune here. Everything sounds as though it is being performed right in front of you and comes across as the kind of song where everyone would hold their breath in order to hear every last syllable– to catch every last glimpse of whatever memory the lyrics happen to conjure.
We promised ourselves that we wouldn’t feature any holiday songs this season– and “Lights” is definitely not one of these songs. But because it’s that time of year, one cannot help but imagine the blur of Christmas lights through a semi-foggy windshield, as this song becomes the soundtrack for wherever it is that you’re going– for whatever feeling you’re trying to chase, or for whatever trauma you’re leaving behind. This is definitely one of those songs that deserves to become part of your emotional soundtrack.
About the track, Sullivan offers: “This song is my ode to love, and everything it brings to people’s lives. I’ve grown up surrounded by people in love, but I do recognise that it can take a long time to find someone who makes you shine, and I wanted to touch on that within “Lights.” It’s a song about love, but also the journey to finding it.”
-TM