Miya Folik - Premonitions

Miya Folik - Premonitions

Difficult as it is the make your mark in the city of angels, L.A. based Miya Folik has managed to do just that. Her debut album Premonitions, a gorgeous mix of emotion, intelligence and sensitivity, is a statement record, one that less announces her arrival as much as it trumpets it. Central to the album is the idea of existence over survival, a desire to let go and to be swept away in the ecstasy of emotion. Or, as Folik puts it herself in opener Thingamajig, “Take it all, I want to be out of control.” I recommend you listen to her advice.

Already an accomplished singer, indeed the west coast native seems to revel in that uniquely Californian upbeat melancholy (for examples, see ‘California Dreaming’ - The Mama’s & The Papa’s), Folik’s emotive lyrics are set against a backdrop of synths, strings, indie-pop and soul. Despite this foray into the mainstream, however, Premonitions is far from a one-trick pony. Adeptly proficient as a wordsmith, Folick crafts syntax around her beats, birthing sentences that have no place in mainstream music (“I generally don’t like to talk about the idiosyncrasies of an obvious fool” is a goddamn beautiful mouthful) and yet they seem oddly at home delivered in her raspy pop growl.

Varied and different, Premonitions has the heart of a nightclub closer (Premonitions), the rough edges of a F*** You heartbreaker (Lost Your Love) and the sunshine keys of an indie anthem (Stock Images). High points can be found in the cheerful anger and biting lyrics of Stop Talking, while valleys are far and few between. In a landscape that becomes increasingly difficult to stand out in, Premonitions has personality to spare, a wide range of influences present and a voice that demands an audience. It doesn’t take an oracle to see Folik will go far, so do yourself a favour and get in while its fresh.

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