Sofia Dragt – We Remember Now (2021)
As part of a project organised by Wageningen45 in collaboration with Omroep Gelderland, Sofia Dragt draws on the war stories of Herman van Brussel for ‘We Remember Now’. Based on his tales of growing up and witnessing the bombing of Wageningen, the single sees him in the middle of a bombing. While telling his story, there is much more to the track as it touches on the pilot dropping the bombs and the strange things people do in a time of crisis.
A truly different and incredible single, it brings the reality of war to ears while asking some serious questions. In light of the pandemic, some of these questions hit a little differently. As she touches on the war, she also celebrates freedom through the music and always be grateful for this while never taking it for granted.
The piano line that opens ‘We Remember Now’ has a theatrical feeling to it that has your mind reaching out into the ether. While there is a softness to the melody, there is also a feeling that grabs your chest and threatens to squeeze. As the song progresses, the drops add a touch of drama to the track while the movement of the piano delicately leads you to a feeling of freedom. Every element of the melody has a storytelling vibe that would not be amiss in a war documentary as fly across war-torn landscapes. The guitars have a mournful feeling to them as they seem to cry with the pain of war.
The delicacy of the melody continues through Dragt’s vocals. Her voice hangs like a chilled mist over the soundscape as she draws you into the story of the lyrics. Her performance sends shivers running down your body as it rises for the chorus. Through the chorus, she embraces the remembrance of what has happened and the hope that it has brought. She also questions how far we will go in times of crisis and the fact that no one can really say. It is a wonderfully crafted single that is part touching remembrance and part consideration of how the past affects our present.
Sofia Dragt effortlessly pulls you into the story of ‘We Remember Now’ with a beautiful delicacy and touching emotive flow. While the single draws on the stories of Herman van Brussel, there is so much more to it. The tender music and touching vocals make you think about the past, consider the present and wonder how far we would all go in a time of crisis.
Find out more about Sofia Dragt on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
