Rosie H Sullivan - “Porcupine”
Photo by declan
From Edinburgh, Scotland, singer-songwriter Rosie H Sullivan is back on the blog with “Porcupine,” a heartfelt and introspective slice of indie folk.
Sullivan does not waste anyone’s time with “Porcupine,” offering listeners an earful of her intimate and breathy voice at the press of the play button. And since we have never failed to be amazed by her stunning vocal work, we are truly pleased that she doesn’t make us wait for it.
Beneath the emotional lyrical delivery, the soft notes of a piano offer a melancholic backdrop, as “Porcupine“ treks through the quiet aftermath of a relationship. Part of the experience of being human seems to always entail the deep ache of having let the wrong person into your heart, and we were, therefore, immediately drawn in by the song’s subject matter.
As “Porcupine” progresses, more elements slowly emerge, including the deep, rich notes of a bass and the heavenly touch of harmonizing vocal layers that easily stir up one’s old, forgotten emotions. The second verse invites some subdued chords from an acoustic guitar and the ethereal, ambient cries of pedal steel.
About the track, Sullivan offers: “I learned about the ‘Porcupine Theory’ from my dad. It comes from a famous philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer. He would tell us that falling in love is like being a porcupine—sometimes, the closer you get to someone, the greater the risk of hurting each other with your figurative spikes. The dilemma, then, is: do you stay closed off to love and intimacy to avoid that risk, or do you open yourself up, accepting that not everything is in your control, in order to experience love, warmth, and connection?”
“Porcupine” comes complete with a bridge, which is an aspect that often seems to be overlooked in a good chunk of the submissions that we receive. But the way that it creates a dynamic shift into the final refrain will undoubtedly have you coming back to the track for multiple listens. The song is now available everywhere and you can connect with Rosie H Sullivan here: Instagram | Spotify
-HD