Derry-based songstress Reevah releases her debut album, ‘Daylight Savings’.
Reevah’s ‘proudest work to date,’ Daylight Savings is sure to delight audiences across Ireland and beyond this autumn. Two-time NI Music Prize nominee, lead single ‘Call Me Up’ was emblematic of Reevah’s artistic evolution upon its release last October. Infectious drum beats over empowering, anti-patriarchal lyrics, with a pristine barbie-pink music video to match very marvellously setting the tone for the album to come.
Single ‘Without You’ brought a brighter, more electronic sound to Reevah’s repertoire upon its release earlier this year. Haunting, flawless vocals soar over a catchy, synth-driven melody almost disguise the darker theme of the song, as we navigate loss by the side of the Derry artist. The song’s latter half offers the listener a stunning instrumental breakdown that blurs the lines between the nostalgic synth-pop sound of the decade prior and the songstress’ forward-facing, distinctive take on pop that we have not yet heard.
‘Time to breathe,’ the latest single from Reevah soundtracked the summer of 2023 in Northern Ireland and across the world. Banging drums carry the introduction to this song, playfully introducing Reevah’s vocals and encasing existential lyricism in masterful percussion. Truly, her vocals are the star of this piece and sandwiched in the heavier introduction and closing minute of this song is a softer, dreamier chorus which underlines her raw vocal talent masterfully.
‘What do you think about me?’ asks Reevah in the opening seconds of the titular, opening track of her debut album, Daylight Savings. In her own words, ‘the album is a tribute to embracing life’s highs and lows’ and that sentiment is never truer than in this track. Acknowledging that she may not be fine right now, but with time, ‘when daylight savings comes’ she will be, this song is uplifting and yet realistic, motivating without ever being too sickly sweet. One cannot help but think about what a triumph this will be when played live, an aural emotional rollercoaster.
‘Golden’ is a slower, introspective take on the familiar themes of the album; ‘love, and life, and where we all end up.’ The scenic detail of the lyrics is breathtaking, as she uses her words to paint a picture of one of those beautiful moments that make everything else a little bit easier. An ode to the softer side of love, the beauty of the comfortable and familiar, ‘Golden’ is a credit to Reevah’s roots in song writing and a pleasure for the ears.
Acoustic-driven ‘Lullaby,’ once again places Reevah’s vocals at its centre. Angelic melodies are a highlight of this song, an anthem of self-empowerment which details the power of prioritising yourself over a rippling acoustic instrumental.
‘Headlights,’ a faster, more claustrophobic song, with ever-building guitars and drums soaring to the heights of crescendo, gives the album a rockier edge. The shortest song on ‘Daylight Savings’, coming in at just over two and a half minutes, ‘Headlights’ shunts the listener’s attention to a darker side of Reevah’s songwriting. Not a far cry from the apocalyptic catharsis of ‘I Know the End’ by American songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, this song shines a new light on the range of Reevah’s skill.
‘Fear is a Four Letter Word’ delves deeper into the darker crevices of Reevah’s musicality – a cerebral, thrilling exploration of anticipatory anxiety, contrasting her own psyche with that of the song’s subject. This song demonstrates the skill of Brian Doherty and Matt Weir’s production, expertly crafting a complex soundscape from contrasting vocals and instrumentals that intertwine marvellously at the apex of the song.
Energetic ‘Take Comfort’ is the sunshine to ‘Fear is a Four Letter Word’s’ Moon. An anthemic, electric ballad of self-empowerment and self-acceptance, riffs of electric guitar and ever-present percussion cloak the uplifting lyrics in an edgier sound. Reevah’s confidence shines through this track, her vocals lace beautifully through the instrumental break. This one is sure to be a live highlight.
The album closes with ‘Make or Break.’ Haunting, reverberating vocals create an eerie sound early on in the track, which later find themselves soaked in the powerful soundscape curated by her whole band. Here the brighter synth lines of the album’s poppier tracks and singles converge with the darker drums and strings of the more emotive side to the album, resulting in this stunning, self-aware song. The synth-driven breakdown, during which the lead vocals peel away and draw the listener into the operatic vocal chants left low in the mix, truly ‘makes’ the album.
With ‘Daylight Savings,’ Reevah solidifies her place at the forefront of the NI Music Scene. Already a master at her craft with her debut full-length release, this album is as sonically diverse as it is thematically coherent, an eclectic delight to listen to. I am so excited to hear what’s next for this artist.
