Dear Joy is a music project by Scandinavian/Thai singer-songwriter Lou Vilstrup. She’s currently in the process of recording her first EP, which will be launched in May, followed by several gigs around London with different accompanying musicians.
Her words and melodies are intertwined with lyrics from every corner of the heart, that take listeners on a journey from deep melancholy to the elated feelings of being alive.
We had a listen to Antigravity by Dear Joy and here’s what we thought:
This simple round begins with a rather sad curl of strings softly gathered in – and they shake you gently downhill. Lou’s voice is warm and generous. No force in it, the voice rolls out like a corkscrew of creamy toothpaste. And asks the question: “Do you fight for what you want …?” Or “Do you need to be stealing someone else’s light?” Because it is an accelerated world, and it’s on a fast spin. So, the suggestion is, you will need to be able to take a moment – to gather all your strength – if you are going to be able to lift your own heavy head, and take it all in After all, how you can make a difference – even to your own life – if you allow yourself to become so weighed down?
There is a lot of hot, greasy magic here. The voice is enchanting and kind, but there is also a touch of pathos hidden behind the folds. There is a fatalistic resignation concealed in the sighs.
And as the shady cello adds a touch of colour to the veiled voice, the song reaches a plateau: “When the earth is spinning round …. the world is turning upside down.” It seems that we will need some kind of charm to be able lift up our bodies from the intensely enduring pressures. Luckily, Dear Joy provides that charm.
-© Neil_Mach March 2013 –
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