Waterlily

Nanuk

Single Review

The most difficult thing I find sometimes when reviewing music is finding the right words to fully encapsulate my initial reaction to hearing a track. This is made even more difficult when an artist creates a track that touches me so deeply that mere words wouldn’t do it justice. Nottingham’s acoustic bard Nanuk is one such artist. Each track is so full of truth, pure intentions, and honest guitar work. The things this man can make you feel with an acoustic guitar is something few artists can lay claim to. So of course up on being informed that he had a brand new bit of musical magic to release this month, I had to write something about it.

On 13th February Nanuk will be dropping his 5th single ‘Waterlily’. Like his previous releases, ‘Waterlily’ has the acoustic guitar at its heart and Nanuk’s distinctive vocals weaving between it. With a minimal approach to the production and allowing the focus on the voice and the guitar he creates a swirling soundscape that lifts you p and shows you a showreel of the emotions stitched into the songs heart. Many of Nanuk’s past releases deal with personal feelings and the warmth you can receive from finding someone who loves you, particularly ‘The Family Song’. While ‘Waterlily’ again focuses upon love and warmth in a relationship, for me it has an alsmot bittersweet tint to it.

The song opens with gentle ambient noise upon which the acoustic guitar seems to emerge out of and then we are painted the image of two people curled up in each others arms and not wanting to leave, but knowing it will have to end. “….Hold our breath until the bubble bursts….” This final line delivered at the end of the opening loop of the track brings that element of bitterness to a sweet situation. ‘We love where we are now, but we know it will not last forever’. He later then goes on to say “….I would give anything, to be where we were again….” Again adding a sense of wistfulness for a simpler time but while recognising that the wish can never be fulfilled. I may be deeper in it than possibly I should be, but that is the power of Nanuk’s songwriting for me on the surface it is a song of love and wishes for a simpler time but then beneath runs a deeper message of don’t take for granted those that you love.

Overall, ‘Waterlily’ is again evidence of Nanuk’s songwriting ability and his honest intention to reach people with his music. He has found a sound and a style and is slowly mastering it more and more with each new release. This is a song to put on the headphones with, lean back in comfy chair, and let it whisk you off into a whole new world.

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