Single Review: Deeper Waters

Singer-songwriter Sophie Gibson will be releasing her single Deeper Waters on 20 August. The hauntingly beautiful acoustic folk track is a tribute to Gibson’s brother who she lost to suicide in 2015. The song is the title track off of her upcoming EP, set to be released later this year.

Originally from Scotland, the now Waihi Beach based artist has been releasing music since 2020. Gibson’s debut single Reminiscing, a cheeky, easy listening track has led to a collaboration with US band Amite, on the track Something in the Water for the video game ‘Beyond Blue’. Gibson has since amassed an impressive number of streams on Spotify and has received funding from NZ On Air for her latest offering, Deeper Waters.

The track is driven by muted acoustic guitar and atmospheric electric guitar melodies. The combination of these guitars and Gibson’s pretty, breathy vocals could give the track a place on a Daughter or Lydia Cole album. A lower octave harmony is reminiscent of Angus and Julia Stone. Heavier percussion comes through in the outro of the song, in which there is a nice shift with a different chord progression. Despite its melancholy feeling, there is a message of hope throughout the song, and the result is a peaceful, comforting track.

An important message to those who have struggled with losing someone to suicide, Deeper Waters is a mature piece of songwriting. I look forward to hearing the rest of Gibson’s EP upon its release.