Australia’s Lawson Hull, fresh off the heels of his ethereal collaboration with Laura Lucas, returns with Strange, a track that is as introspective as it is intimate.
From the first delicate strum of the guitar, Strange envelops the listener in a cocoon of melancholy. Hull’s evocative vocals, set against a backdrop of gentle instrumentals, tell a tale of personal growth, fear of failure, and the ever-present spectre of COVID-19. It’s a song that speaks to the collective experience of a world in flux, where the lines between past, present, and future blur into one.
Hull’s reflections on the song offer a window into the soul of an artist grappling with the weight of expectation and the elusiveness of inspiration. The “blur of songs written during COVID,” as he puts it, serves as both a testament to his prolificacy and a reminder of the challenges that come with creativity. The song’s lyrics, with their vivid imagery of tables turning and dreams freezing, echo this sentiment, painting a picture of a world that is both familiar and foreign.
Yet, for all its introspection, Strange is also a song of hope. The accompanying music video, shot on 35mm film, is a visual feast that juxtaposes the solitude of Hull’s home with the breathtaking beauty of the Australian coast. The climax, where Hull’s wife takes his hand in a candle-lit room, serves as a poignant reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone.
Lawson Hull’s Strange is a song that resonates with the uncertainty of our times yet offers a glimmer of hope for the future. So, if you’re looking for a musical journey that is as thought-provoking as it is therapeutic, give Strange a listen. It’s a song that will stay with you long after the final note has faded.