Herald K – Arethusa (2022)
With the first single from his upcoming album Mythologies, Herald K brings the balance of yin and yang to a collaborative effort of five unique musicians. ‘Arethusa’ taps into the ancient myth of a river god’s infatuation with a water nymph, whose name is used as the title of the track. Through an exploration of the myth, Herald K considers light and dark, transformation and temptation, and intriguing instrumentation.
This single features Herald K (vocals, guitar), Stephan Steiner (nyckelharpa), Robin Gillard (bass), Jessica Slavik (vocals) and Lina Louise (backing vocals) who are all working together for the first time. This single, and the album it is a part of, continue the showcase of Herald K’s songwriting abilities, that combine ancient literature with moving musical compositions. Infusing traces of Americana into a very European musical flow, he brings a uniqueness to his sound that is a pleasure to listen to.
The acoustic guitar that opens ‘Arethusa’ brings an earthy folk tone to the sound that is deepened by the nyckelharpa. You can feel an almost ancient mistiness to the melody that transports you into a world of nymphs and spirits. It is a very rich melody that reaches into your soul through its soft opening movements. There is a slight bounce that comes later, through the movement of the nyckelharpa. The instrumentation is stunning and makes you want to close your eyes and soak up their movement. The two lines of music move together, only to diverge and spin in their own direction, while creating the most beautiful melodic composition.
As the misty, yet earthy, flows of the melody swirl around you, they lead you into Herald K’s vocals that have an almost spoken-word edge to them. It is like an ancient storyteller weaving the old myths for their audience and it is undeniably captivating. He effortlessly draws you into the tale of Arethusa, packed with words of warning, obsession and temptation. The lyrics are rich in imagery and you can see the myth playing out before your eyes. The backing vocals bolster his performance while adding a feminine touch to the story, making it more captivating. You are going to get lost in the tale of the single and be rather shocked when it all comes to an end.
Diving in ancient Greek myths, Herald K and his collaborators bring a touch of ancient mysticism to the folky storytelling flows of ‘Arethusa’. The two lines of the melody move through your senses with a richness that transports you into the myth. His vocals are stunning in their storytelling, as he paints the myth for you and has you sinking into his performance.
Find out more about Herald K on his website, Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.
