Sometimes a song finds you. Its in that moment of pure unexpected connection to something outside yourself, that magic happens. Such a moment washed over me when I stumbled upon Philadelphia singer-songwriter Sophie Coran, and her new single "Permission." I'm proud to premiere this earnest, intimate track right here on EARMILK.
"Permission" feels like a tune from bygone era, sepia-toned and laden with sparse, yet impactful instrumentation – silken strings, haunting piano, and yearning vocals. Coran's delivery is delicate yet powerful, the subject matter deeply personal. The track is lifted from the neo-soul songstress's forthcoming yet-to-be-titled third project, and signals a transition to Coran's "Noir & B" musical style. Its not hard to hear the nods to contemporary R&B as well as 1950s and 1960s film score on this piece. On the assist is Michael Cumming with engineering and production at Rittenhouse SoundWorks, and Logan Roth on piano and arranging.
While vintage in tone and style, "Permission" is, at its core, a song about the very current day topic of mental health. "I struggle a lot with anxiety, which affects almost everything I do," says Coran. "Oftentimes this can be immobilizing, and so I wanted to write about all that noise inside my head; I have to fight for my peace of mind. While I understand that this is not uncommon, it can be completely isolating." Sophie, you aren't alone in your fight. And on behalf of all those who struggle, I want you to know that strong voices like yours are what keep us going. Thank you for sharing your truth.
Connect with Sophie Coran: Facebook | SoundCloud | Spotify | Twitter
