From Country to Pop, she never shys away from a vocal challenge (and amazes us each time); she is an absolute powerhouse of talent that has taken the public by storm.
Her eclectic influences have resulted in a unique style of performance, one that permeates her fashion choices and individual vibe, both on and off stage. So, her new track Golden Girl has been the perfect opportunity to paradoxically solidify this fluid, creative space she inhabits in the music industry, whilst giving her fans a tune for the ages.
She opens the song with a soft melody, minimalist music that serves as a subtle enhancer to her velvety vocals. She sings without filtering her emotions, simply placing them into metaphors most of us could never imagine, even with a thousand hours at our disposal. As the track begins to pick up, it evolves into this more jaunty and bolder piece, reinforcing her desire to be authentic and not cloud herself with exaggerations or over-the-top performance. Even the chorus “Golden girl/ Wild and free/ Golden girl/ You will never forget me” is a simple four-line concoction that seems to sum up everything that many of us want to say but can never find the words, not really, not when the world seems to override all sane judgement. But Hanley manages to express this in terms we can all connect with. It isn’t flashy nor is it performative, but instead possesses this perfect combination of reality and the abstractions of music that make it so perfect.
And it is her vocal talent that truly makes these beautiful lyrics that much more astounding. Each note has its own space in a phrase as each chord is purposeful and fulfilling. Each moment of the track demands its own appreciation from beginning to end, listeners are completely enticed throughout the piece. Not only is Hanley’s range on the surface a thing to behold, but her riffs at the conclusion of a phrase, particularly the final line, cannot be matched. They add this colour to the song that inevitably brightens up any room it is played in. Ria Hanley- a talent to watch.
Abby Tapping
Image: ‘Golden Girl’ Official Single Cover
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