Genevieve Charbonneau – Symphony of Sorrow (2023)
As a trained actress, dancer and musician, Genevieve Charbonneau has her finger in many performing pies, but we’re here to focus on the music – although, I’m certain her dancing and acting skills are as sublime. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Charbonneau has dubbed herself the “homesteading songstress of the Cowichan Valley” bringing us heartfelt music from a rural setting. While raising children, gathering veggies and hauling firewood, Charbonneau somehow finds time to be an award-winning singer-songwriter. As part of the Balkan Babes, Genevieve and the Wild Sundays, and the duo Heartwood, she brings passion and life to the music world. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘Symphony of Sorrow’.
The first release as a solo artist since her well-received album Heart Is A Tower in 2019, ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ is a charming folk ballad from Charbonneau. Inspired by the renowned Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, Charbonneau noted that she tapped into her inner Cohen with “…the structure of the verses echoing that of his song…” Personally, I find ‘Hallelujah’ with Jeff Buckley on vocals to be one of the most heartsore and spine-chilling songs ever and ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ sends the same chills down my spine.
“Though ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ is a breakup song, it’s really about using music to process the grief and find hope in the life after…” – Genevieve Charbonneau on ‘Symphony of Sorrow’
One element I find endearing in ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ that does not exist in the intimate, vulnerable and painfully desperate ‘Hallelujah’ is the orchestral folk tone. Collaborating with producer and composer Adrian Dolan, there is an evocative string section accompanying Charbonneau’s intimate vocals and acoustic guitar. The stripped-back approach shows the raw beauty of a simplistic, organic soundscape; however, despite the bare-bones structure, ‘Symphony of Sorrow’ is kaleidoscopic.
For more from Genevieve Charbonneau, check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
