Single Review: I Don’t Have To Move From Here

Mahoney Harris

Review by Danica Bryant // 10 July 2023
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Single Review: I Don't Have To Move From Here 1

Mahoney Harris’ beautiful new folk number I Don’t Have To Move From Here is an airy, light track celebrating the worth of knowing your boundaries and personal needs. Working alongside producer Wayne Bell and masterer Oliver Harmer, the Waiheke-based artist has crafted a beautiful follow-up to her previous series of singles.

The song is lyrically simplistic, revolving primarily around the leisurely looping melody of the title line. Harris’ honeyed vocals add depth to the delivery. But it’s the rich instrumentals that build the emotion considerably. Soft backing harmonies, gentle keys and a welcome brass solo section add dynamic layers that make the song feel utterly tranquil. The sound is layered, yet deceptively minimalistic, a cornerstone of the folk genre.

“I’m in my right mind, I’ve loosened my grip”, Harris smiles, a testament to the power of letting go and allowing yourself comfort in knowing your limitations. It’s soulful and expressive, yet never weighed down by the meaning, which in the hands of a less gentle songwriter, could have made the subject matter rather heavy. Instead, Harris’ touch is light, sweet and full of just the right amount of feeling.

For fans of acts like Aldous Harding and Nadia Reid, Mahoney Harris will hit just the right spot. Find yourself a good quality set of headphones or speakers, and take it all in, knowing you too don’t have to move from here when this stellar Kiwi song is playing.

About the author Danica Bryant

Sharply bitter and sickeningly sweet all at once, Danica Bryant is not your ordinary songwriter. Born to the fruitful music scene in Napier, New Zealand, her songs cover intense topics such as adolescence, mental health, sexuality, and young love. Danica Bryant is “all hard guitar and pain-filled howl” (The Hook NZ) – this woman bites back. Bryant played her first gig at age twelve. Her career ripened when Smokefree Rockquest awarded her the National APRA Lyric Award in 2018, for ‘Dizzy’. The following year, her track ‘Sugarbones’ featured on Play It Strange’s annual songwriting compilation album, and she won their national ‘Who Loves Who’ contest covering Aldous Harding’s ‘Horizon’. Bryant was also selected for mentorship by Bic Runga at her Christchurch Art Centre workshops. After opening for Kiwi legends like Jason Kerrison and Paul Ubana Jones, Bryant was cherry picked to support Elton John on his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’

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