Hazel Mei – The Funniest Thing (2021)
Lying somewhere between Norah Jones, Janis Ian and Carol King, Hazel Mei brings a jazz-tinged folk-pop to contemporary society. Introspective and engaging, the Australian singer-songwriter carries you along a delicate river of music with her unique sound. Featured in Happy Mag, Mystic Sons, Indie Central Music, Our Sound Music and various playlists, Mei is reaching audiences on an international scale. The latest addition to her charming repertoire is ‘The Funniest Thing’.
Smooth and soft with a flowing melodic arrangement, ‘The Funniest Thing’ washes over you like the smell of carefully scented candles. Following her critically acclaimed EP Lost & Found, Mei was hailed as “…a singer-songwriter with the class and ability of industry royalty” (quote from Happy Mag), and they aren’t too far off. The unique combination of piano, drums and saxophone in ‘The Funniest Thing’ are clear indicators of natural talent. Not only that, she self-produced the material so there’s tons of non-musician potential.
Penned during the April lockdown, ‘The Funniest Thing’ is evidence of how beautiful music has spawned from these desperate times. Touching on issues of misunderstanding and anxiety, Mei uses a personal narrative to connect with audiences on a deeper level. Exposing the concept of being “paralysed by politeness and acting instead of asserting her opinions”, Mei lays out her vulnerabilities, sensitivity and examines the human soul.
What I find most intriguing is the simplicity of the track. An acoustic-influenced sound aligns with the barebones concept showing fragility but within an empowered package. Then again, I always overanalyse things and ‘The Funniest Thing’ might be just a song about something funny. Either way, Hazel Mei is an angelic artist and I can’t wait to hear more from her.
In addition to her single, Hazel Mei released an official music video for ‘The Funniest Thing’. The video can be found on her YouTube Channel.
For more from Hazel Mei check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
