Marissa Burwell - “Kiss Her”
Saskatchewan-based singer-songwriter Marissa Burwell returns to the blog with another captivating folk delight: “Kiss Her.” This intimate and vulnerable track delves into the idea of discovering “your sexual identity later in life and resenting the way heterosexual norms set you up to see women loving women relationships as something that can serve men instead of as an option for love” (Burwell).
Much akin to the likes of artists such as Hannah Cohen and Haley Blais, this gentle number grabs ahold of you immediately and pulls you along a splendid sonic journey of self discovery. The song opens with Burwell’s soothing and fantastic vocal, shortly accompanied by a delicately strummed acoustic guitar. Her voice is radiant as it passes through the warm tubes of vintage processing and anyone within earshot will have no choice but to drop everything and listen intently.
Moments later, a thick rhythm section appears, complete with bass and drums, glued tightly together by what we can only assume to be the analogue gear of yesteryear, as many modern recordings seem to lack this distinct flavor of creamy goodness. The dreamy tones of a synth glide through the song’s atmosphere, carving a path wide enough for Burwell’s voice to tenderly deliver the thoughtful, introspective lyrics.
Once the vocal harmonies arrive, you will fully understand that we simply had to feature “Kiss Her” on the blog. We’ve never attempted to hide our weakness for the way that layers of vocals will cause us to immediately throw some words together in an effort to demonstrate how deeply a track resonates with us, but, this time, we fear that we will never be able to do it any justice. This is a song that must be heard, studied, loved completely, and then played again and again.
“Kiss Her” comes from Burwell’s brand new EP, Either Way, available everywhere today:
About her new collection of music, Burwell adds: “The songs on this EP were written through different points of reflection, some songs were written in the eye of the storm, while others were created after the city centre had been rebuilt. Each song explores an unspoken experience, whether it’s daydreaming about what could be or about what is. These songs were started and finished in varying environments; empty rooms where the vocals hung over your head and on the floors of a rental apartment booked for a reunion weekend with friends.”
-HD