Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

MOLTENO – Illuminate (2021)

MOLTENO wove a powerful message into the shimmering dreamy toes of her single ‘Our House is on Fire’. With her latest release ‘Illuminate’, she delves into an equally rich soundscape for an exploration of positivity, persistence and autonomy. Merging electronic and organic sounds, she layers her ethereal vocals over earthy foundations for a captivating and hypnotic single.

If her last release was a raging inferno, this one is the harnessing of the flames to drive a better and brighter future. Through the richness of the single, she fills us with motivation and optimism while providing the strength needed to get back up when we are knocked down. Adding the power of natural elements to the thrall of her musicality, she continues to get you lost in her sound and firmly cements her place in your heart.



‘Illuminate’ pulls you into the soundscape with a rolling drum that has your head bopping to the rhythm. This beat is washed with hazy ambient tones that adds richness to the sound while creating a wonderful contrast. The cello that calls through the soundscape adds to the luxurious feeling of the track that is seeped in velveteen richness. The balancing of elements has been delicately handled in the melody as you ride waves of rich tones only to be caught by the light and airy ambient layers. Through all of this, you feel the urge to close your eyes and get lost in the hypnotic movement of the music.

As the melody hypnotises you, MOLTENO’s vocals bring an almost otherworldly vibe to the track. The lightness of her performance dances across your ears in the most delicate and ethereal way possible. While her performance is incredibly delicate, there is a solid message woven into the lyrics. Through them, she helps us get back up after a fall, dust ourselves off and continue. There is a lot of positivity laced into the performance that has you feeling stronger in yourself while knowing that others understand the struggles you are going through.

MOLTENO layers ethereal vocals over a melody that balances earthy and hypnotic tones to fill you with positive energy in ‘Illuminate’. The music is rich as it washes over you and gets you caught in the flows. Her vocal performance is otherworldly while offering the strength you need to get back up after being knocked down.

Find out more about MOLTENO on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.