Gina French - Dream It All Up Again
Blues, Rock
Washington, U.S.
Overall Impression: Seattle-based singer/songwriter Gina French explores themes of self-reclamation and perseverance, with her release of "Dream It All up Again". This downtempo track features a dramatic and dynamic arrangement, highlighted by a bluesy rhythm section and colored by a stirring string ensemble that builds to a wild climax. French's expressive vocals convey deep emotion, delivering compassionate lyrics that emphasize the ability of imagination and dreams to overcome life's many difficulties and setbacks. Fans of powerful female singer/songwriters will revel in the empathetic lyrics and musical majesty of Gina French's "Dream It All up Again", available now as a single on all major streaming platforms.
Strongest Point(s): Amazing production, great sounding mix. Fantastic arrangement with a wonderful dynamic shape. Rhythm section of bass, drums and acoustic guitar are locked in together tightly, fantastic groove. Nice tone on the electric guitar, adds a little dirt to the mix. The string arrangement really elevates this track, providing texture and creating tension. Love the way it builds over time. Stunning vocal performance all around, incredibly evocative with terrific control and command. The subtle microtonal adjustments suggest a blend of middle eastern and blues tonalities. Lyrics are poetic and encouraging, focusing on self-agency and resilience with outstanding use of imagery and prose. Great ending, bringing the intensity down and singing the final refrain overtop that drone. All in all, this is an extremely powerful and compassionate song that could serve as a self-help anthem for those in need of a little lift. Excellent work here, by everyone involved!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative
Artist target suggestions: Fiona Apple, Joanna Newsome, Joni Mitchell, Cat Power, Aimee Mann, Regina Spektor, Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette, Norah Jones, Heather Nova, Feist, Imogen Heap
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent within the next generation of musical explorers.