Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Anat Porat – Concealing (2023)

A brief gander at her Spotify account shows music released in 2023 only – ten singles and one full-length album to be exact, but Anat Porat has been active in the music industry for much longer. The Israeli singer-songwriter began making waves in 2018 with her debut album Back To Reality, and in 2020 she released a six-track EP. Along with her releases, and the rave reviews, Porat has charmed audiences with her confident stage presence as a backing vocalist for major artists, her performance in the musical Les Misérables, a mini-tour in Switzerland in 2023, and performing original material with her project Air&Skin.

One of the previously released singles found on her most recent album Back To New, ‘Concealing’ follows the well-received singles ‘The Loyal Father’ and ‘When We Went Away’. Retaining her distinctive acoustic folk sound there is an inimitable sincerity and soothing in Porat’s retro folk style; however, ‘Concealing’ leaps forward with a shimmer of contemporary folk-pop slipping into the soundscape. Smooth, gentle and soothing in its acoustic style, the single sets you adrift in a swirl of music. As barebones as minimalist approaches can be, the starkness often hides a kaleidoscopic power – ‘Concealing’ is one of these songs.

A rather special track, Anat Porat is joined by her daughter Shira Porat Pariente in ‘Concealing’. The smoothness of the acoustic guitars lay a well-layered foundation for a mellifluous melody; however, for me at least, the “something special” lies in the twinkling classical piano lingering beneath. Flitting from a charming guitar to an enchanting piano and topped by flowing vocals, ‘Concealing’ is intricate but simplistic.

Complexity and simplicity are not only in the melody but the lyricism as well showcasing depth of artistry. Thematically, “the song draws on Anat’s previous bad habits of hiding her inner self from the world.” In ‘Concealing’, the mother-daughter duo ooze vulnerability in a delicate exposition of human fragility. The thing is, just as ‘Concealing’ touches one’s soul on an intensely intimate level, a slathering of hopefulness and optimism binds it as they “encourage anyone who feels they may be concealing themselves the confidence to be proud of who they are.”


Find out more about Anat Porat on her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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