Single Review: Human

Kiwi Alt-Folk artist Tom Lee-Richards is releasing his new single this January 28th. Human is a song about being out of one’s depth, confessing one’s human state of “losing ground”, and accepting their chosen fate. It is collaborated and recorded in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The song is an aural experience, each element of the song brings warmth and comfort, yet lyrically confronts the fears of the listener. The song is worked on with producer Leonardo Marques, and features a group of Brazilian artists: Bernardo Bauer (Bass, BVs), Felipe D’Angelo (Keys, BVs), Pedro Hamdan (Drums), Metheus Felix (Violin) and Fabio Ogata (French horn).

Human is from Tom’s upcoming EP, Spinning for Shape. He experiments with his collaborators in this song, echoing a live sound that is distinctive of Minas Gerais. We hear keys, synth, guitar and a noticeably tenacious bass that progresses with the song.

Human starts off with melodic fingerpicking, followed by a kicking drum beat, synth and soft keys. Tom’s vocals are full in range, drifting out of deepness into high notes and falsettos that inspire. The chorus is a soulful catch, with a definitive folky feel. I really enjoyed the lyrics “It’s not that I’m different, I am the same”. The backing vocals add a delicate touch to Tom’s raspiness, both very complimenting tonalities. Similarly with the band; they sound in harmony, and set the open, balmy scene of the song brilliantly. Complimentary to the track is a music video available here.

There’s a steady display of strings in the background; violin is added to the orchestra around four minutes in, both lyrically and sonically you can tell the track is worked on in a progression, adding horns, bass notes and symbols to finish. Well done to Tom and his team on this release! You can tell his musical prowess and talent has reached other ends of the earth, has had a profound amount of influence and fondness from other musical forms and cultures.