Marianne Engebretsen – Light as the Moon (2021)
Marianne Engebretsen juxtaposed happiness and despair in her strangely upbeat single ‘Strange To You’. Now, she is filling our hearts with love and affection through the dulcet tones of ‘Light as the Moon’. A musical portrait of her mother, she brings her warmth, playfulness, spontaneous and loving nature to life.
A sonic journey through the verses steeped in love, the track highlights how the beautiful qualities of her mother kept their family together. A touching single, it not only pays tribute to mothers, but it also showcases Engebretsen’s musicality. From the contrasts of her last single to the playful tones of this release, she really lets listeners know why she has such a passionate following and only gains more listeners with each single.
‘Light as the Moon’ slowly opens with a sound like someone getting ready to start playing. This moves into the soulful piano line. The melody has a rather soulful vibe that is enhanced by the sweeps of the background. The layering of the instrumentations is interesting handled with each distinctively standing out in the soundscape while combining for a wash of affection. Each layer of sound is like another aspect of Engebretsen’s mother’s personality that form the whole that is beautiful and strong. As the single progresses, the cascade of piano notes meets a rising drum that soars with power and fills the soundscape with a sense of strength.
Resting over this incredibly dynamic melody are Engebretsen’s vocals which are as soulful and smooth as the piano line. The use of imagery and metaphors in the lyrics brings a vivid sense of the person she is describing. At times, her voice is soft and small but filled with so much love for the person she describes that you can’t help but be swept up in the emotion. While each verse delves into another aspect of her mother’s nature, there is a universality to it that makes you feel affection for your own family. The chorus is a declaration of the strength of her mother and gains further poignancy with the choral backing later in the track. At this point, Engebretsen’s vocals rise with power along with the melody.
Marianne Engebretsen paints a musical portrait packed with love, strength and soulful vibes in ‘Light as the Moon’. The melody has a dynamic movement with intense layering that brings the distinct parts of the whole together. Her vocals are packed with affection and awe as she delves into the nature of her mother and fills you with a sense of strength.
Find out more about Marianne Engebretsen on her Instagram and Spotify.
