Jeremy Engel is a Luxembourg singer-songwriter whose evocative blend of folk and rock creates a unique and immersive musical experience. By day, he works as a conference interpreter for the United Nations, and by night, he pours his heart into his music, drawing inspiration from artists like Damien Rice, Rory Gallagher, and Glen Hansard.
I’ll be honest here. I listen to music from all over the world but this might be the first time I have listened to a Luxembourg artist for some time. I will nod toward Naomi Ayé, who released an interesting track called “Turn My Back on Light” a year or two ago, but I haven’t heard from her in a while.
A significant chapter in Engel’s musical journey was the many years he spent in Ireland. The rich musical heritage and vibrant cultural landscape of Ireland profoundly influenced his style and sound, imbuing his music with a deep sense of storytelling and emotional resonance. With fluid guitar playing and adventurous soundscapes, Engel’s songwriting often features rich, layered textures that evolve throughout each track, creating a sense of journey and discovery. His voice, deeply emotive and often imploring, delivers heartfelt lyrics that explore themes of love, loss, and longing.
This single was released on August 7th, while I was on holiday, so I am going through my intray now, and some new reviews will be up and running soon. As for this track, there is a gentle, drifting feel to the music and story. The song lifts the spirit with its melody and has this rather lovely violin that underpins it alongside an acoustic folk guitar.
The release date is not casual. The press pack tells me that in 1974, on August 7th, the high wire artist Philippe Petit completed an illegal high wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre of New York City. The track is inspired by this historical event. The artist’s aim is to celebrate Petit’s tricky task but also reflect on how life is about courage. The track is narrative: the symbolism of the tightrope walker is an allegory of the search for balance in life. Finding balance is an everyday challenge because it constantly escapes us, like a quest through our shadows and our aspirations. The track talks about the need to feel the void in order to feel alive. It is arranged minimally and gives a nod to Damien Rice’s musical approach.
Before leaving you, I will listen to the 2023 release by Jeremy Engel called “Secret Place,” a track that has now hit over 23,000 streams. The track echoes the new single in the melody, the narrative with some folk leanings and the vocals that do seek to comfort and bring safety.
Basically, if you like folk music with a distinctive melody and some uplifting sentiment, you will love the work of Jeremy Engel. Although not as popular on the streaming numbers as “Secret Place,” I will note that I like a track of his called “A Million Miles Away.” For that one, I loved the chorus, the rhythmic beat and the vocal delivery. It deserves a higher profile for the harmonium break alone. A very good song; check it out!
As a finishing point, to keep us improving the magazine, we really do need your support, and if you can go to the ‘Support us’ button and buy us a coffee, it helps us feel appreciated and keep improving the magazine. We also have our merchandise shop; I’m looking great in the gear! Read on, check out our many great features and reviews, and do bookmark us on your pages!
You can download this single, and more music by Jeremy Engel here
By Lorraine Foley