Piano ballads with a sensitive vocal delivery that conveys despair for what once was.
Read my track-by-track breakdown and learn about this playlist’s “artist-to-watch,” Asha Gold, below.
Track-by-Track Breakdown
1. Asha Gold – “Faith In You”
My personal tastes rarely include piano ballads, but this one seemed special. The lyrics of “Faith In You” are heartbreakingly honest, and the stripped-back production lets her voice shine. My favorite part is when she sings, “Where are the angels?” It sounds like she’s crying out for help.
2. Rihanna – “Close To You”
I felt Rihanna’s voice was similar to Asha’s. In this song, she expresses a need to maintain her closeness no matter what. The playful instrumentation that closes out the song adds a dimension to her sentiment. It paints an image of her shrugging and saying, “Well, I can’t help it.”
3. Luz – “i’m lonely”
Luz has the most delicate and breathy vocal delivery out of all vocalists on this playlist–– I love it. The juxtaposition of her voice and the bright piano is beautiful. I’m always impressed with her lyricism, and her verses always read like poetry:
- “And hoping I preserved the coating on these pebble walls”
- “Each stone I hold’s a sequence shown on every road that we, Followed but, now we don’t speak, no”
4. Lady Gaga – “I’ll Never Love Again – Extended Version”
Many of these songs mourn the loss of a romantic relationship, but not necessarily the loss of that romantic partner. Compared to the last song, Lady Gaga’s character shares a similar stubbornness and pain towards moving on.
5. Adele – “All I Ask”
This song follows the previous track nicely since the chorus ends with “‘Cause what if I never love again?” This concept of “Give me a memory I can use” is a unique and mature response to a relationship’s demise. The narrator is hurt yet resigned.
6. Beyoncé – “Sandcastles”
I have not heard many songs by Beyoncé where she sounds so wounded and raw. “Sandcastles” is the most aggressive song on the playlist. It comes through in the lyrics of verse 2:
- “Dishes smashed on my counter from our last encounter”
- “Pictures snatched out the frame”
- “B*tch, I scratched out your name and your face”
7. Alicia Keys- “If I Ain’t Got You”
This piano opening reminded me of “Sandcastles,” but the story is more simple and light. Alicia Keys was actually influenced by the tragic passing of Aaliyah in 2001. “It just made everything crystal clear to me—what matters, and what doesn’t” – Alicia Keys.
Artist-To-Watch
U.K. singer-songwriter Asha Gold has been recognized by Rolling Stone, BBC, and even iconic clothing brands like Fred Perry. Her soulful voice contains many layers, and she can switch between them effortlessly.
What I love about her music is that it makes you feel cool. She blends the pop and R&B genres in a way that grabs the listener.
Listen to her debut EP GOLD01:
