Drawing us in with an astral guitar strum, expanding into a dimensional and melodic soundscape with textured percussion, Chris Pellnat and Moroccan singer Catalus open In My Heart في قلبي with ethereal Arabic prose and situational lyricism about coming together despite the conditions of one’s shared reality.
The opus evolves with dynamism, tapping into a power pop meets indie rock frequency to take us on a conscious and enlightening journey. We appreciate the sonic ebbs and flows, the compositional expansion and contraction, akin to the functionality of our very own hearts.
Speaking on the release, Chris confesses, “In My Heart في قلبي is an emotional song that conveys defiant strength in the face of adversity.” The talented creator elaborates, “This song is for Amal, a friend in Kuwait who has endured misfortunes and injustices, yet remains strong. She dreams of finding true love, but the men she has met do not want her for who she is.”
The lyrics express a deep sense of empathy and encouragement for someone who feels isolated and unappreciated. The repeated lines “I feel the love in my heart, in my heart / قلبي في قلبي في بالحب أشعر أن ستطیع” emphasize an inner strength and a profound emotional connection. The song acknowledges the challenges faced when “another day is done and you’re cooking for one,” highlighting the loneliness and the need for resilience when everything seems to go wrong. The message is clear: in a world full of difficulties, it is crucial to remain strong and keep sharing love.
In My Heart في قلبي also addresses the frustration of being undervalued, particularly when it comes to superficial judgments. The lyrics “But these men don’t see you’re more than just a pretty face” and “I want to scream ‘She’s a delight in every way'” reveal a deep admiration for the person’s inner qualities, which go unnoticed by others. The repeated assertion that this person is “a delight in every way” underscores Chris’s appreciation for Amal’s personality, which is described as “funny and strange.” The plea for them to never change suggests that authenticity is valued above all, and it would be a disservice to themselves and to the world to conform to others’ superficial expectations.
The chorus reinforces the theme of strength and love. The lines “When everything is wrong you’ve got to be strong in this world” and “You’ve got to be strong to share your love with the world” remind us of the importance of maintaining inner strength despite external challenges. The Arabic lines “العالم مع حبك لتشارك قويًا تكون أن يجب” (which means “You must be strong to share your love with the world”) reiterate this universal message. The song encourages embracing one’s true self and continuing to share love, even when it feels like a solitary endeavor, because love and strength are powerful forces that can make a difference in the world.
We learn that through conversations with his friend Amal in Kuwait, Chris learned about the adversity she has faced and the challenges she encounters in trying to find love. He wrote this song to express his feelings about her predicament, as well as her strength and determination.
Bobby Sabella from Woodstock played the hand drums and rock drum kit, whist Chris performed on most of the other instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano, and dulcimer. Chris felt it was important for Amal’s feelings to be expressed in Arabic by a female singer. Catalus, who recorded her vocals remotely in Morocco, provided them to Chris for mixing.
We absolutely love the message, the high emotional quotient and the overarching sense of oneness that the opus manifests. We have added In My Heart في قلبي to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Chris Pellnat‘s wider discography, and anticipate future releases from the visionary artist.