Album reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Harpa – Growing Pains (2022)

With her impressive vocal range and combination of contemporary and classical sounds, singer-songwriter Harpa is a unique gem in a sonic pool of stones. An established artist from Nottingham, UK, she shares a connection with listeners intimately telling her story through personal narratives. Already featured on The Other Side Reviews, our team has praised her music; however, we are not the only ones being captivated by Harpa’s musical masterpieces. Featured on Find No Enemy, TJPL News and various playlists, Harpa’s melodies are reaching audiences beyond her UK borders. The latest addition to Harpa’s discography is her EP Growing Pains.

Signed to independent label DooBeDoo Music, Harpa has been honing her sound over the past few years with Growing Pains showing her evolution. Speaking to listeners on a personal level, the songstress shows depth and innovation in her relatable tales. Harpa explains that Growing Pains is “about the confusing transition into womanhood. It’s a realisation – as if one day I suddenly woke up as a grown woman with so much responsibility, so much pain and emotional chaos…No one ever really warms you about that or the way that men will treat you. I think I entered adulthood very naïve and trusting…and that false reality was shattered very quickly.”

Have you ever heard the term “adulting” and how so many people who recently reached adulthood want to “stop adulting” – this is what Growing Pains is all about. Alluding to the frustration, angst, anxiety, confusion and inner turmoil of dealing with a new world, Harpa discusses her innocent introduction to adulthood. From the opening track ‘Hollow’ to the closing ‘Growing Pains’, you can hear the desperation and pain felt by Harpa. In ‘Hollow’ there is an acoustic-inspired combination of piano, drums and her powerful vocals oozing the passionate pain of growing up.

Following the soft ballad ‘Hollow’, Harpa melds elements of indie-rock with a contemporary pop melody. This highlights her innovation and versatility as a musician. Interestingly enough, while there is a transition in the style of the song, a flowing sense of melancholy carries through the different tracks. Her heart-breaking vocals add a rawness to the music littering it with an innocent sentimentality, but also a highly sophisticated and mature tone.



For more from Harpa check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator