by Ashley Paskill
Indie artist Johanne Swanson, who uses the performance moniker, Yohuna, just released a brand new record, Mirroring. The album was released via Orchid Tapes and was produced by Eric Littmann. The 10-song set features songs that span between approximately two and four minutes.
The tracks on Mirroring go from ethereal and other-worldly to mainstream pop and rock almost instantaneously. However, you always know it is her by her distinct voice and singing style. The instrumentation of each track is also unique and vary between songs. While the songs and styles may have been influenced by others, Swanson does a great job of finding her own style and making her influences her own. This is crucial since so much mainstream music is starting to get repetitive.
Not only are the styles of each song drastically different, but so are the subject matters covered. They range from songs about escaping to another place (“Find A Quiet Place”) to having enemies (“Dead To Me”). This will give listeners a chance to have at least one song to relate to, which is crucial in a world where music is becoming less real and more manufactured and fake. The openness of each song is a breath of fresh air where music is becoming noise pollution, only being made to make music without regards to being real.
Mirroring will be enjoyed by those who love Enya and the Cranberries. Overall, the album takes the listener on a musical journey into Swanson’s life, telling intimate details of her life and the inner feelings of her soul. It is obvious that she poured so much of herself and her life into each song, and this will really resonate with the listeners, who may not relate to much of the music out there today. Music is meant to be a reflection of the musician’s soul, and this album is just that.
