Drawing us in with a celestial soundscape featuring synth arpeggios and intricate guitar notes, Prem Byrne opens Orion with atmospheric vocals and the situational yet metaphorical lyrics, “Oh my god strong winds are blowing, the sails are ripped, the decks are grown, and the captain’s drunk and no-one knows the way…”
The opus expands with the comforting idea of looking to the stars for guidance. It embodies the philosophy of trusting the universe, delivered with poetic prowess and a cinematic energy. We could imagine this being featured in a TV show like Nine Perfect Strangers, or a poignant scene in Euphoria on HBO.
The layered harmonies for the hook are sublime as we experience the message, “Orion’s up in the sky, everything’s ok…”. The sound design creates a cohesive tapestry of sound with a high spiritual quotient and we deeply connect with the existential notions that manifest as well. The switch-up for the middle eight keeps us enthralled, whilst astral flutes further add to the cosmic overarching energy of the piece.
For some background, the Orion constellation, or Orion’s Belt, is regarded as a symbol of strength, transformation, and cosmic connection. Across various spiritual traditions, it is seen as a “cosmic gateway” that connects the physical with higher dimensions and ancestral wisdom.
Speaking on the release, Prem Byrne explains, “The words of this song have drifted into my mind over the months, reminding me that at the deepest level, all is well. Here’s hoping the message finds its way to the people who most need to hear it.”
Orion would certainly go down well at a spiritually-inclined festival like Medicine or Secret Garden Party. Prem also cites Sting, Tracy Chapman, Cat Stevens, Coldplay, and Peter Gabriel as sonic influences, which we can feel manifest, but there is no doubt that the rising artist is creating an authentic sound of his own design.
We have added Orion to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Prem Byrne including Three Words, You’ll Do Fine, and Little.