With the highly anticipated The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping adaptation set to hit cinemas on the 20th of November, Kahan’s single is the perfect lead-up. Touching on grief and loss, the lyric “it feels good to say your name / it’s all I have now” perfectly portrays the comfort in memories following a personal loss. While many listeners may relate, the song is based on the fictional backstory of Haymitch Abernathy and his girlfriend Lenore Dove from Suzanne Collins' novel. The song echoes Lenore’s memory through Haymitch’s life leading up to the film: “I carry you on with me / I promised you I would, and I do”. Beautifully, the song has a hopefulness to accompany its sadness, with the importance of memory being the main focus.
His debut performance of the song was on the 2nd of October in Sydney, as part of his The Great Divide World Tour following the release of his fourth studio album earlier this year. Announcing his contribution to the upcoming film through Instagram, he stated that it is a song centred around “purpose, grief and perseverance” and that he is “so honoured to be a small part of it” in reference to the film itself.
Kahan’s addition to the beloved dystopian series is a perfect return after his album ‘The Great Divide’, with complicated nostalgia being a common theme throughout his music. His musical style and lyricism naturally mirror the emotional landscapes in the franchise. This, combined with his acoustics and lyrical storytelling, captures the characters' isolating and oppressive scenarios perfectly.
Ella Clarke
Image: 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Official Album Cover