Working out of California, Indie-pop singer and songwriter Gerle is one of those rare musicians whose work truly is built to heal, mend and support. Her music always feels like a warm chicken broth or a soothing warm towel, an emotional pick-me-up and balm for the wounded hearts. She often produces unapologetic and genuine sentimentalism that will leave even the most jaded cynic in a contemplative, vulnerable mood.
Gerle's newest song,"Salt" is indeed very flavorful, but far from "salty" it is instead more bittersweet, as described by the track's tagline: "You will do anything for the love of your life, and bear whatever pain they cause you if that is what it takes to get what you want." "Salt" is a slow-burn ballad set between a forlorn-yet-cozy piano melody and a chill hip-hop beat that no doubt plays deeply into modern fall aesthetics and vibes. At first, the song starts out so slow and deliberate that you can feel it tugging at your heartstrings from this really deep and powerful emotional place, and when the beat kicks in, it injects a sensation of levity into the atmosphere that pulls you out of a brooding mood and into a more positive sound space. Alongside the single, Gerle premiered a gorgeous lyrics video to promote it. The unique visuals focus on marine life -mainly jellyfish- animated like a very peculiar stop-motion collage, check it out:
I found the lyrical element to be particularly tough, and it must have taken a lot out of GERLE when writing. The concept of wilfully and patiently suffering for "the love of your life" is incredibly powerful, and while you could say that such suffering is never truly good or fruitful, I still believe that "Salt" is one of the most profoundly honest and brave songs I've heard all year in that regard. Props to Gerle for writing something so fiercely and unapologetically romantic.
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