Andrea Nardello
Fire
Reviewed by: Adelie Salagnac
“I thought about life and how often you need to pick yourself back up after being broken,” singer/song-writer Andrea Nardello said in an interview with Vents Magazine. “We, as individuals, need to keep our internal lights burning. No one else can do that for you.”
Folk-rock artist throwing in a hint of blues in her music, Andrea Nardello has seen it all. Opening for musicians such as Tony Lucca, Gabe Bixon, or Brandi Carlile, Nardello made a name for herself, with a very promising first release, Echo, that set an undoubtable standard for the singer. Let me tell you she did not disappoint with this second release.
Her sophomore EP, Fire, produced by Matt Chiaravalle again, and released through Noble Steed Music, gives out a certain feeling of warmth and relaxation – aficionados of the first album will not be let down with this new one. Heavy topics, raw and honest lyrics dealing with both darkness and search for light, effective melodies: Nardello’s recipe is proving itself to be working well, once again. The talented singer/songwriter goes from fiery and poignant to soft and nostalgic in a matter of minutes, and delivers a very personal record, as usual.
Fire however has its ups and downs. Songs like ‘Fire’, ‘F**k It’ or ‘August Nights’ would definitely be included in that “ups” part. Wholehearted and beautifully crafted, Nardello’s tunes set your mind at peace. However, I sometimes had to refrain the urge to skip a song and get to the next one. Must be something about a certain repetitiveness and maybe an overall lack of energy. Is Nardello’s pretty voice and touching lyrics making up for it? Probably. But when dealing with such talented artists, I can’t help but wishing they could be even better.
Sounding like a journey through her life, Fire makes you reflect on your own; sitting down by a bonfire and contemplate your life while looking at the stars, driving peacefully home with your windows down, or else. You name it. But Nardello’s music is the perfect fit for any reflective and thoughtful evening. She has a certain power that makes her listeners think and interpret her songs as they please, while still giving them an intimate look into her life.
Fire might not be the most energetic EP, nor the most innovative. It might not be the record I’ll listen to every day on repeat. But listening to Fire made me happy. It made me realize that life is a beautiful journey, and that everything I have to go through, well, there are chances that everyone else had to go through this too at some point in their life. I enjoyed every minute of it, and it left me wishing there could be more of it. Self-titled track, ‘Fire’, is a song about “the fire you create for yourself”. Even though Nardello said no one but you can keep your internal lights burning, there is no doubt that her sincere and heartfelt music will light up a spark in more than a few hearts.
Rating: Listenable
