We previously featured Karen Salicath Jamali as she invited us to reconnect with the heart and inner-child on the spiritually uplifting opus, Mary’s Song, so when we heard that Karen was back with Wild Birds Flying High, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in her sonic universe once again.
Wild Birds Flying High opens with a cinematic guitar performance in a minor key as Karen shares a raw and undeniable authenticity with her prose. This feels unique and cathartic from the get go, as Karen pours her soul into her lyricism, showcasing her evolution as a songwriter.
The guitar work is sublime and her vocals ethereal. We are reminded of early Lana Del Rey and Cat Power. Yet there is something more stripped-back, spiritual and personal here. Nothing feels overproduced and every note, breath and line feels intentional.
There are also subtle tempo shifts throughout the composition. These appear to mirror the emotional movement of the narrative, and in a time of overproduced perfectionism, Karen creates a song that feels real, soulful and cinematic. As it stands, Wild Birds Flying High is about breaking free from the cycles of blame, hurt and shame. This message feels personal but also resonates on a universal societal level.
We could imagine this soundtracking an indie drama such as Past Lives, Aftersun or The Worst Person in the World, or on television, it could work beautifully in a reflective Normal People, Big Little Lies, or a more conscious TV show like Nine Perfect Strangers, especially during a montage where a character begins to break away from an old version of themselves.
Karen examines how we can become trapped in old emotional roles. Wild Birds Flying High asks what remains when those roles finally fall away. Her answer is beautifully simple: love. “This song came from watching how we hurt each other, and how we long, still, to be loved,” explains Karen. “Beneath the blame and the misunderstanding, I wanted to remember what is actually true – that love is what we are underneath it all.” The wild birds most certainly serve as a metaphor for release – an intimate meditation on forgiveness, acceptance and emotional liberation.
We continue to be in awe of what Karen Salicath Jamali creates, and have added Wild Birds Flying High to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of the visionary artist and anticipate future releases.