Love Guides A. harlana
When did folk music simply become “sad music” to the indie masses? Gently strummed guitars and atmospheric production can achieve a range of emotion; I do love anything that allows me to contemplate the depths of the psyche, but these sounds more often than not come from a positive place. New York songwriter A. harlana, né Juno Roome, writes lullabies about the love he has for his partner—a genuinely joyous feeling that levels out unhappiness, at least in the present.
In 2019, Roome released so much that I frequently lost track. First there was ada belle, a January EP, followed by an ambient record in April, a cover in May, singles in June and September, and a spoken word record in August. He is comfortable in any context, it seems, allowing the sounds—any sounds, his sounds—to bear his soul.
ada belle, a three-song release that doesn’t necessarily represent the year for A. harlana, still feels like the crowning jewel atop all of his 2019 musings. It opens with a slow, melancholy melody on “textile workers,” featuring lyrics that never quite fit into it. Roome creates his most iconic harmony as he emphasizes different syllables in the chorus: “can’t you see that it’s all poured o-o-o-out?” Roome’s whispers are practically inaudible, and certainly unintelligible to my ears, but provide a deep comfort that doesn’t require denotation. Then again, his voice is not what propels this record—it is the cautious instrumentation.
While it is the opening hook on “textile workers” that most frequently gets stuck in my head, “faces” and “the thunderings are nearly through” tell more complete stories with guitars, percussion, and production. There are plenty of vocalizations that don’t amount to lyrics, just added sounds swirling in this electric storm of passion and private philosophy.
Everything that has come after ada belle feels like a drifting continuation—similar themes and melodies appear, but he is always growing. There is courage in “if i’m a bird,” and there is fear in “my dear, i will think of you.” And love always guides him forward.
A. harlana | buy ada belle | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
hello everybody!!
thanks for takin’ the initiative and scrollin’ down! nice to see ya, goodlookin’! we are currently working hard on finishing the full length album, which we can’t wait to share with all of you. for now, they’re still pretty much top secret, but you can hear them live if you come to one of our shows! please come support us and hang out with us, we love making new friends and will be motivated to do better when we see all your beautiful faces. or support us on patreon! that line is super overdone and lame, i know, but this can really help us. i mean no pressure but we’ll just leave the link and let it sit with you below. :)
https://www.patreon.com/aharlana
in the meantime, what i really wanted to announce was that: the lyrics from all of the upcoming songs are posted below. enjoy!! and before you know it — you’ll be hearin’ them instead of having to read them.
❤️
-juno
TEXTILE WORKERS
don’t start with me now, the handles are yours.
you’ll see through me still, like the bibles on your shelves.
your eyes, they carry you up, but it’s just mine you’ll find up here.
are you truly the only one with your smile?can’t you see that it’s all poured out?
it’s not late enough for your last,
can’t you see that it’s all poured out?
i’m out.my chest is kept shut closed, but the scent travels to,
i know you long for it girl, every time you see me.
when my arms wrap around your body, and you take it with you.
do i see things in your eyes? i still fall short by the yearsand then you go, go back,
to the bed of your man.
redolent of my musk, you go back,
to the bed of your man.
FACES
i’ve never missed my wants,
and every vice of mine.
but i can’t seem to will
your face next to mine.