Eliza Lovise’s debut song “I Lie in the Sun” may have been released on Halloween, but there is nothing spooky about this youthful track. “I Lie in the Sun” is three minutes of relaxed, crooning vocals, cushioned in laid-back instrumentals and a feel good soundscape. Lovise’s song is the child of Tonetic Records, a youth-led record label sponsored by the Arts Education Exchange. It’s a mellow, breathy track that will leave you feeling cozy.
There’s no need to follow the stream to the sea/When they’re both just as free as can be
To me, this song seems to be defined by its softness. Think of curling yellow light, an orange cat stretching in the sun, a field of slowly waving grass. The track itself has a low volume, drawing the listener in so that it feels as though Lovise is whispering in your ear. And believe me, this is the type of whisper that will give you goosebumps. Lovise has a tender, understated voice that suits the light, swaying soundscape. Her vocals are quiet and gentle, layered with careful harmonies. These harmonies are expertly woven together by producers Tom Postgate and Joe Brunton.
I lie in the sun while you wait for the shade/Whispering thought you were running away
The song never gets carried away with itself; its melody laps back and forth with the rhythmic elegance of an ocean wave. Warmth bleeds through the track and floods the listener with a sense of safety, even as the lyrics allude to a story of disappointment. The speaker reminisces about a friend she wants to lie in the sun with, croons about the smallness of her town and the “strange thrill” of watching time pass with the clouds. She draws us into a trance with her hypnotic voice, then colors the lyrics with no small amount of longing. She builds a world that feels ferociously familiar, both in its comfort and yearning.
All I have by my side is unsatisfaction/Sure you’ll be back soon
Only toward the end of the song does the soundscape shift to match the aching lyrics. “My heart is always yearning to join the world in burning,” Lovise sings after the final chorus. That last line shows off both Lovise’s lyrical prowess and her voice’s quiet power. It speaks to the tension between hope and despair — the speaker doesn’t want to fall apart with the rest of the world, but her heart does, and where can we draw the line between those? We can feel the speaker’s iron determination and her unbearable longing in the same moment. Her breath is then woven into the melting guitar and slowed percussion, adding texture to the song’s finale.
“I Lie in the Sun” is a radiant song from a smart, ambitious record label. Tonetic Records will release four more singles from young and local artists, so keep your eye out for their next releases.
