Sophie Lilah creates a pastel-washed auditory panorama in her latest single ‘Content But I Find’. At just 18 years old, Lilah is already showing herself to be a masterful arranger and songwriter; this tune is a masterclass in effective repetition, both lyrically and musically. Her vocal control is exceptional, and her delivery of lyrics like “Now I don’t sleep, I just rest and dream… it’s fine” will make you feel things. This is the second single leading up to her debut EP Fear/Instrinct, and it’s left us in anticipation for what’s to come.
The repetition of the picking pattern on the mellow nylon-string guitar grounds the song, while the staggered introduction and removal of various instruments that occupy and emphasise alternative yet complimentary rhythmic ideas take us on a journey. The repetition of the chord progression is kept fresh by the constant ebb and flow of sonic textures, only changing the progression in the last verse under a lyric we’ve heard before: “when everything’s fine, that’s when I realise it’s not” - this casts a new forlorn feeling over the lyric, giving us permission to release the sadness that has been held back until this point.
Lilah’s vocal is both tender and powerful; there’s a lovely contrast created between the stronger vocal moments with a touch of vocal fry, and the softer more breathy delivery of other lines. These stronger vocal moments also contrast in a satisfying way with the dreamy soft instrumentation - this seems to mirror the song’s title and concept: contentment in the soft instrumentation, but longing in the tension of the vocal. Her slow vibrato is also sublime, and I love how it’s perfectly in sync across the harmonies.
Lyrical repetition is another tool used really powerfully in this song. The lines in the verses are opened with the song’s title, followed by exploring various facets of reflection on an ended friendship. The choruses repeat lines like, “I tried and I tried and I tried” and “I begged and I begged and I begged”, and we feel the longing build each time.
Sophie Lilah has showcased songwriting and musicianship beyond her years throughout this song, and we can’t wait to hear more.
Listen to ‘Content But I Find’:
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