War Violet – Different Formations (2023)
One of the greatest things about working at The Other Side Reviews is discovering new music on a daily basis. From well-established bands to emerging solo acts, everything grabs our ears and turns our heads. Today, I have War Violet floating through my ears. Five years ago, the US-based singer-songwriter Jummy Aremu (also known as War Violet) self-released her debut EP Getaway; and while we weren’t aware of her existence then, we are most certainly paying attention now. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘Different Formations’.
In 2018, War Violet’s sound leaned toward Amanda Palmer’s alternative-pop style. Obscure and a little off-kilter, there was something experimental about Getaway. Skip ahead and she tastes various flavours of folk in her new single. Stepping away from the eclectic Getaway, this evolution in War Violet’s song shows a more sensitive side to her personality; however, she retains a slight obscurity in her rich vocals giving it a gritty appeal.
Whimsical and wistful, ‘Different Formations’ has a surreal nature in the airy ambience. Light as a butterfly wing, War Violet tantalises and tickles us with a soft folk tune; however, the kaleidoscopic nature makes it far more complex in its arrangement and theme. Listless and laidback, the charming piano melds with percussion, strings and an acoustic guitar. It might seem like a lot of instruments, but the arrangement blends everything seamlessly in a sophisticated, well-textured flood of music.
A symphonic cacophony, you can become lost in the harmonic waves and War Violet captures this sentiment perfectly. She explains, “This song was written at a time when I was dealing with insomnia. In my half-asleep half-awake state, I often felt as if I was floating above Earth. I observed Earth from afar as a spectator…”
‘Different Formations’ might be a song to send your soul soaring but there is a profoundness within. War Violet is flying on the surface, however, the lyrical content tackles feelings of anxiety, isolation, alienation and intense intimacy. She further explains: “’Different Formations’ is about coming to terms with the decay of our earth and atmosphere and our search for meaning. I wanted to indulge in the chaos and irony of Earth and make a song that was beautiful but sad…a place where there is extreme beauty but also decay, all happening at once.”
For more from War Violet, check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more fantastic indie-folk tracks on The Other Side Reviews’ Indie Folk playlist:
