I have just returned from my Summer break to find my car breaking down on my drive back from the airport! Honestly, is it just me that these things happen to I ask myself! But, with my car in the local garage, and me waiting for the news about how much it will cost (what a nightmare that is!) what better time to listen to the new single from Sarah Louise, an artist that we covered here off and on in the magazine?
So what do we know about this new release? Before my review here is the press release:
On August 15, Sarah Louise released her new single, “Place to Be”. Written in 2021, Place to be is one of the most personal songs written by the Suffolk-based singer-songwriter.
“I was feeling completely overwhelmed… I pulled over in my car and watched the sunset. Something about that sky made me stop and breathe. I picked up my guitar and notebook, and the first verse just poured out. It felt like the start of something really special, but I never quite finished it… until now.”
Earlier this year, a lovely fan from Woodbridge found the rough version of the song on YouTube and messaged Sarah Louise to say how much it meant to them. They said that it captured the essence of who she was as an artist and that encouragement was exactly what she needed to revisit the track, and make it the final version that you’ll hear today.
“Releasing this felt like opening the door to a sacred space. I hope people feel safe, seen, and gently held when they hear it.”
The stripped-back, piano-led track features the talented Aberdeen Wedding Pianist, adding an additional layer of warmth and depth.
“In the studio, it felt like we were creating something honest and unfiltered. His piano added this soulful stillness that gave the lyrics the space to breathe.”
My Review: a reflective song that lifts itself vocally over a delicate piano track. I also would happily find my place watching the sea, or (as John Lennon once sang) spend my days watching the wheels go round. It’s rather a beautiful song, and having heard Sarah Louise a few times this may be her finest vocal performance with a vocal that is almost choral in delivery. It is a song that helps melt away the troubles of the moment, where we are hit with difficult partners, cars that break down and bills that we can’t pay – but we all need that place to be where we can lose those concerns and let it go.
We have a sanctuary in sound, and while my post holiday feelings of relaxation are almost a distant memory already, I find that the quietest of songs can offer the greatest comfort. Check it out!?
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Artist website here
Stream music from Sarah Louise here
By Anna-Louise Burgess