Gia Margaret Trades Ambience for Vocals Post-Injury

Gia Margaret's new album, 'Singing,' heralds a notable departure from her signature ambient sound. Three years after her viral hit "Hinoki Wood," Margaret embraces her role as a singer-songwriter on this latest record. Previously, a significant vocal cord injury necessitated a focus on instrumental ambience, a period that influenced her past works.

This album, released as her first since 2018's 'There's Always Glimmer' to feature her prominent voice, explores conventional song structures and confessional lyrics. Margaret's vocals are presented with clarity and warmth, creating an intimate listening experience.

Tracks like the opener "Everyone Around Me Dancing" exemplify this closeness, blending breathy vocals with atmospheric synths and Arve Henriksen's celestial trumpet. However, some songs, such as "Cellular Reverse," lean into a more generic lo-fi hip-hop sound, with lyrics that are perceived as platitudinous and melodies that border on twee.