Whitney Lyman – The Time Is Now (2024)
From rock and jazz to electronic dance and pop, singer-songwriter Whitney Lyman is not to be pigeonholed. Pushing a genre-diverse sound, the US-based Lyman uses her rich vocals and eclectic melodies to take listeners on experimental melodic journeys. This is my introduction to Lyman, but I am seriously late to the party as the established musician has turned heads internationally for several years. From her native Seattle to European tours, a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, collaboration with Grammy-nominated composer Andrew Joslyn, lead singer for the 50-piece Seattle Rock Orchestra, support for Tom Odell and earning critical acclaim across several continents, Lyman is insatiable. Come with us as I eagerly delve into her new single ‘The Time Is Now’.
Following her well-received singles ‘Floating’, ‘Don’t Carry The Weight’ and ‘Love Spell’, Whitney Lyman captures the folk-rock sound of yesteryear with a contemporary indie-folk tone. Lying somewhere between Lizzy McAlpine’s coming-of-age folk-pop with Fleetwood Mac’s retro sound, Lyman’s soothing vocals thread together decades in a charming composition. Interestingly, while Lyman’s style and sound ooze uniqueness, I find myself likening her to Stevie Nicks in its obscurity, eclecticism and off-kilter lilt.
Composed and penned with Alan Roy Scott, ‘The Time Is Now’ combines bold drums, a soaring guitar and a pulsating bass in a mellifluous four minutes of music. Weaving together like threads in a massive sonic tapestry, each element shimmers and shines with individuality; however, as the instruments bring their own light to the song, the tune is harmonic with a symphonic unity. For me, however, it is Lyman’s rich vocals that bind the song with a golden ribbon offering warmth and optimism but a hit of vulnerability in her tone.
Sincere, sentimental, tender and heartfelt, ‘The Time Is Now’ is the intoxicating anthem ready for folk festivals. Yet, in the same breath, it whispers intimacy as a theme song for days sitting before the fire with good friends, a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit.
Find out more about Whitney Lyman on her official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
Discover more folk music on The Other Side Reviews Folk playlist:
