Almahata – Heart of Me (2021)
Almahata – it’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it? I mean, trying to say that ten times fast. Yet, this stage name is the ideal option for the evocative music she releases. Loosely translated as “the soul’s natural sound”, Alhamata is a wistful independent project inspired by a need for artistic freedom. A rather new and intriguing artist, we are happy to present the debut single ‘Heart of Me’.
Touching on elements of loss, love, isolation, confusion and disconnection, ‘Heart of Me’ is a beautifully painful piece of music. Almahata describes the track as coming “straight from the soul…and the emotions that come with loving and being loved by a person you may have to let go”. I can easily see this as being the theme song for one of Shakespeare’s tragedies, but what of the melody? I mean, depth in lyricism is one thing but it’s nothing without a toe-tapping melody…sort of.
An acoustic-inspired single driven by acoustic guitars with interspersed underlying piano, ‘Heart of Me’ lies somewhere between indie-pop and old-school folk. Bringing a contemporary spin on folk music, Almahata lies somewhere between Lana Del Rey, Carol King and Brandi Carlile. Laidback and soothing, despite the desperate emotion, ‘Heart of Me’ has a flowing sound complemented by rich, emotive vocals.
In addition to her single, Almahata released an official music video for ‘Heart of Me’. Performed in a single take, contemporary dancer Summer Jay Jones encapsulates the underlying emotions of ‘Heart of Me’ in a few steps. Performed in the tunnels of Folkestone’s Sandy Beach, the superbly choreographed piece oozes pain, joy, angst, ecstasy and isolation. No bells or whistles in this one, merely a dancer moving to each chord and making it magic.
As advocates for epilepsy awareness, The Other Side Reviews must mention that this video can be uncomfortable to view for people with photosensitive epilepsy. It does not include strobe lighting but the camera movement adds a jarring effect that could cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Watch at your own risk
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For more from Almahata check out her Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
