19-year-old Alma Owren has returned following her debut single “Outcast” with “you;” a heartfelt exploration of loss and desperation. Using her skills as both a producer and a multi-instrumentalist, Owren creates a candid picture of grief sure to tug on anyone’s heartstrings
Owren begins her song with the gut-punching statement “the new beginning hurts without you.” The song follows Owren confronting the grief of losing a loved one and trying to compromise with their absence. The heavily detailed vocal recordings that keep in the artist’s breathing and other small details aid in the intimacy within the song. The audible details feel like you’re close enough to Owren to hear them. In the second verse, the lyrics “you’re a scar” and “still in your chains” create powerful imagery of being shackled by remorse. If you enjoy the lyrics of Lizzy McAlpine and Phoebe Bridgers, you’ll enjoy the stories within Alma Owren’s music.
In keeping with the unsparing lyrics, Owren uses strings and guitars to create a beautifully complementary soundscape. A guitar layers upon itself in the intro of the song to build the airy space of the single, with a soft violin giving some variation. To ensure that the mix still sounds full, a soft bass and piano stay seated within the lower frequencies. The vocal layering throughout the song also helps keep the light soundscape and cozy mood. Ending the song is a small solo from the piano, giving a soft send-off to the intimate single.
Alma Owren uses her talent as an instrumentalist and producer to create a heartbreaking song in which each element discreetly and purposefully plays off of one another. “you” is set to feature on Owren’s EP Under The Surface, releasing on the 14th of March.
