Few artists made quite the impression on #TEAMw21 like Taynee Lord at last years Living Room Gives Back show at The Bedford and she seems set to follow up on that with her latest single "Heavy Air", the cover of which sees her staring out looking positively Cleopatran!
The single is every bit as impressive as the cover with a drum roll giving way to a lead electric guitar intro that puts us into a bluesy frame of mind. As Taynee opens her vocals, things fade, there is little left but percussion and a punchy bass as Taynee has some pointed remarks to make at someone. It is very dramatic with word and music really working well together to create an atmosphere.
"People like you should be kept at arms length
Telling the truth really isn't your strength
You twist my words and get them on your side
Nothing you say, can be verified"
The written word does not really do justice to Taynee's delivery, forinstance the way that the word "strength" is elongated or the delicious pause between "say" and "can" all go to make this single so endearing.
As each verse begins there is a steady build up of instrumentation, gradually the drums are more prominent along with the electric guitar which all leads to the chorus. The mood also gets more serious with Taynee adamantly declaring she will not be smothered yet the feeling of anxiety is almost claustrophobic,
"I won't let it feel like I don't have a say
I need to stay calm and not put up a fight
But it is happening, my chest is getting tight"
The chorus is the culmination of all of these feelings - "Heavy Air" being Taynee's metaphor for being trapped within another lies and being unable to speak your own truth.
"Heavy Air no I can't breathe
The oxygen, feeling lies coming right through your teeth
It's Heavy Air, no I can't breathe
The weight of words that you shared
I can't bare you making "Heavy Air"
In the later verse Taynee staunchly, defiantly, defends her right to be herself and to be heard
"I'll tell my story - put me on the stand
No I don't need ya - to hold my hand
I'll take a beat, now count one two
See I'm trying to feel brand new"
There's even a false ending which allows Taynee another run at the glorious chorus.
It's a unique sound and one that Taynee has clearly worked hard on, to match the lyrics evoked in the song