With her Sarah McLachlan-esque voice, earthy instrumentals and solid lyrics, Lola de Hanna has the type of skill-set that producers love. She writes her own lyrics and they’re far from cookie cutter. Expressive and deep, there’s definitely an audience for her stuff.
But with a lack of real radio-friendly hooks, the transplant from Greece’s newest album, “The Other Side†is more along the lines of something you’d hear in a small Park Slope book store or Starbucks than a syndicated radio station. It just doesn’t “pop.â€
Those looking for a more eclectic female singer/songwriter may find her worth a listen, but anyone who finds her voice similar to someone with more credibility will find her song structure more experimental and deep than they may want to experience.
To say her work is different is an exaggeration. Simply put, de Hanna’s tunes are atmospheric. The instrumental work is awesome for the most part and de Hanna’s voice is anything but weak. Powerful at times and even bluesy at others, she’s got a ton of versatility. However, when all the pieces are put together, they create tunes that don’t stand out for any particular reason.
A song like “Ghosts†is a perfect example of de Hanna being “almost†there. The soft piano accompanying her and the reflective lyrics do a great job of scene-setting. However, while it does a solid job of showing off her vocal range and her breathy improvisations, it never establishes itself as a song that steals your ears. The hook just doesn’t have that type of power. Instead, it sounds like something you’d hear in a SoHo elevator- catchy and cool, but not enough to get her on the radio.
“So Gray,†on the other hand, has the type of instrumental and vocal balance that can make it an indie hit. The opening bass line is mega infectious and de Hanna’s vocals almost cascade off it, like falling water. If more tracks had an intriguing instrumental opening like this one, it would make the weaker lyrics and not as catchy hooks more forgiving.
By the end of the six-song EP, you’ll get the feeling that de Hanna has a solid voice, but these songs don’t allow her to show off enough. More than anything, this compilation could have used a cover or two to put her vocal prowess in a perspective to invite more listeners. The way it stands, she’s got vocal chops, but doesn’t have the hooks to reel in as many ears as she should. That doesn’t mean that she can’t, it just means she hasn’t yet.
Check out the video for “Knack For There†Below:
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