Ahead of the release of her solo debut album Lovegaze, out Jan. 12 via Fat Possum, LA-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Nailah Hunter has offered a glimpse into an immersive soundscape with the second single and opener, “Strange Delights.” Hunter will also be playing an album release show in LA at Zebulon on Jan. 12 to mark the occasion of her formal introduction.
While Hunter has dropped more than a considerable amount of music prior, notably her Spells EP and joint album Sleeping Sea with Endel, Lovegaze is expected to delve into deeper and cosmic themes than previous work. In the same ethereal spirit as the lead single “Finding Mirrors,” “Strange Delights” showcases Hunter’s singular voice, guiding the listener through a mist of mystifying instruments.
Carried by delicate keys, the vocals sweep over the recording and surround the evolving production, which feels as though it’s alive. The first half of “Strange Delights” takes time to build up, slowly bringing different elements that widen the track’s scope. Besides Hunter’s voice and the piano, the modular synth, made by her partner during an improv, takes over in the latter half. When the song reaches its climax, every instrument comes together in an emotional swirl of elements that emphasize Hunter’s artistry.
Considering how otherworldly “Strange Delights” sounds, it’s only fitting that it received an equally unique video that highlights Hunter’s exploration of the natural world. Directed by Haoyan of America, who previously provided mind-melting videos for Crumb and Cautious Clay, the 3D animation follows a lone crocodile swimming through a water world, finding their tribe.
The video stands out against the primarily live-action visuals released nowadays, having been inspired by Hunter’s fascination with the eyeshine and night vision of vertebrates like crocodiles.
Both “Strange Delights” and “Findings Mirrors” have proved Hunter knows how to create wonderfully hypnotic music, to which Hunter described the song’s feel in visceral detail. “Once I worked on it with producer Cicely Goulder, ‘Strange Delights’ took on a more golden quality that reminds me of a hazy and intoxicated feast in a peculiar, yet familiar wood.” Strangely, the description couldn’t be more accurate and indicates every track on Lovegaze will be just as stimulating.
Words: David Sosa
“Strange Delights” by Nailah Hunter is out on all streaming services. For more on her debut album and live shows, including her album release show on Jan. 12 at Zebulon in LA, follow her on Instagram and Bandcamp.
