MUSIC FARMER 5 - Review by Adam Jones
Heartstrings in Harmony
In the grand tapestry of indie music, where threads of authenticity and raw emotion are interwoven with delicate care, BLOCKED emerges not merely as an artist but as a soulful weaver of stories. Her latest musical canvas, "nicest red," is a masterpiece of heartfelt lyricism and acoustic beauty that captures the ephemeral nature of human connection with a grace that is as rare as it is profound.
"nicest red" begins with a gentle caress of acoustic guitars, each strum a brushstroke on the vast expanse of a magical chordal landscape. It is here that BLOCKED steps into the light, her voice a tranquil whisper that calms the tempest of the heart. The production choice to doubling her vocals is not a mere echo but a chorus of kindred spirits, lending a vibrancy to her words that transcends the earthly plane.
In "nicest red," BLOCKED's lyrics unfold like the petals of a bloom baring its soul to the dawn. The opening confession, "always a crier / alone in my room / vulnerability is a crime / but I’m a criminal around you," is a window into a room where the heart resides, where to be vulnerable is to be fiercely brave. The addition of a cool stylophone hook weaves a thread of nostalgic intimacy, a reminder of the bedroom's sanctity where the indie song was born—a place youthful and alive, calming and audacious in its simplicity.
The narrative woven through the melody—a chronicle of a dear friend's departure—is a universal sonnet to the love that defines us, the loss that shapes us, and the indomitable spirit of the connections we forge. BLOCKED's songwriting is a delicate dance of words, capturing the intricate ballet of emotions that accompanies change. Her refrain, "The world is small / we’re miles apart but we’re / never far at heart," is a defiant whisper against the howling wind of separation, a promise that the heart knows no distance.
Belinda, the creative Singaporean artist behind BLOCKED, infuses her music with the vibrant hues of her life in Melbourne. Her journey from a self-taught musician, drawing inspiration from the emotive power of "emo" bands, to a singer-songwriter of evocative depth, is etched into every note of "nicest red." Her music is not just an expression but an empathetic embrace, connecting her to those who find in her melodies a mirror of their own emotional landscapes.
