Setting the tone with elegant acoustic guitar and an immersive, unique nyckelharpa, Herald K opens his composition, Arethusa with intrigue and poetic lyricism as he delivers the situational and narrative driven lines, “He saw your beauty, Arethusa, you laid your rags down on a stone, he saw you bathing, Arethusa, in his waters, all alone…”
The opus expands to deliver an alternative folk soundscape and story inspired by the ancient Greek myth of the waternymph Arethusa. The result being a song about yin and yang, temptation, passion, transformation.
We are in awe of Herald K‘s charming delivery, which reminds us of early Leonard Cohen. Arethusa marks the first single from Herald K‘s upcoming album Mythologies. The composition is especially unique due to the use of a centuries old nyckelharpa, played by Stephan Steiner.
Vocal harmonies on the track are also provided by Jessica Slavik and Lina Louise which add dimensionality to the piece. Herald K does indeed cite Leonard Cohen an influence, along with Hank Williams and Ovid, although it is clear that the rising artist based in Vienna is creating a sonic universe of his own.
We particularly appreciate the poetic nuance of profound hook, “How could you resist his strength when this river’s not contained? His gushing and a’ flowing will devour you like a flame; How could you elude his grip like no one has before? By a body changed to water, and returned to flesh no more?”
We have added Arethusa to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we wait for Herald K‘s upcoming album Mythologies!