The 28th of August witnessed an historic day for music fans with the launch of a twelve-track album that can only be described as breathtaking. This album is titled Walking The Tightrope, a work of genius from the gifted artist and musician Stephanie Phillips.
Stephanie has many years of experience behind her as an artist. She has a long history of writing music and playing guitar, having been on stage performing her music in some of America’s greatest historic venues, including New York City venues such as the SpeakEasy and the Village Gate. However, with this album, she has outdone herself! Let’s get started
From the very first note, the song opens with a shivering waterfall of acoustic guitar picking and the addition of a deep cello that creates a mood of anticipation and expectation. While listening to the song “Try As We Might”, the listener will get an impression that the main idea of the lyric is diving directly into the struggle of a person trying to cope with life that slips out of his/her hands. Trying to hold together the falling pieces of your world, Stephanie Phillips touches upon such important issues as the futility of trying to change anything and the desire for controlling the whole process. The main element of the song is an intimate vocal line that seems to whisper into the darkness, supported by an emotional background created by fingerpicked steel strings and string pads. In such a way, the song becomes a soothing hug for the listeners who feel exhausted while trying to control everything.
The second track begins with a harsh and isolated sound of guitar notes that hang in the air like an unwelcome memory, gradually followed by the low and slow tempo beat of a brushed percussion, representing a sad heartbeat. In “My Brother’s Shoes,” the theme becomes even narrower and more devastating as it delves into the theme of grief, absence, and disorientation in dealing with the reality of a lost loved one. Phillips faces the burden of the loss of her brother and reflects on the inheritance of sadness. Vocally, the performance becomes highly vulnerable and grounded with a raw pain felt in full exposure; the music, in turn, is simple with mostly isolated notes from the piano and the crying sound of a slide guitar that penetrates your heart.
Plunging straight into the middle of the work, “Walking The Tightrope” opens with an urgent and rhythmic acoustic riff played in a repetitive loop, which reflects a frantic and nervous pace and immediately puts listeners in the shoes of someone walking a tightrope between two extreme opposites. The general topic is dedicated to the disorienting sensation of being caught in the frightening gap between devastating heartbreak and newfound joy that is just as fragile, and learning how to balance one’s life and love amidst recent loss. As for the musical composition of the song, it is more elaborate with its percussion and vocal harmonies that gradually become more intense and create a rich, full soundstage. However, Phillips’ vocals pierce through all the instruments with sharp clarity and strong conviction. This song serves as a powerful and inspiring anthem of perseverance and tells everybody at the fork in their lives that they can tremble and move forward simultaneously.
Setting the tone on a new emotional playing field, “Blue Sky” begins with an airy guitar intro using an open tuning technique, along with the subtle ringing of distant wind chimes. The lyrics express the love that you receive from someone who helps pull you out of darkness. We all have that one person who can get us out of any funk that we’re in, and this song celebrates those people in our lives. The vocals of the song are exceptionally airy and hopeful, drifting easily above a bright mandolin and rich bassline. To the listener, this song serves as a refreshingly cleansing breath, reminding us that healing takes time, but the skies will clear soon enough to let the light in once more with the help of a loved one.
Stepping into the next realm of weight and intensity, the song “Force Of Nature” starts with a driving and soft percussive beat along with an intensely warm and beautiful sound of acoustic guitars, demanding undivided attention from the very start. The lyrical message deals with the unrelenting and irresistible force of emotions, recognizing the fact that certain experiences and emotions in life are too big to be controlled and require us to let ourselves go with the flow and not resist. In terms of vocals, Phillips delivers a much harsher performance this time around, giving a gritty and ferocious sound to her voice along with a pulsating instrumental background.
A change in mood is indicated by “Possessions”, which starts off with the gentle crackling sound of vinyl static followed by a sad and meandering piano tune. Here, the lyrics focus on the emotional and sentimental significance of possessions, detailing how simple things take on an eerie importance in relation to memories and how hard it is for us to disassociate ourselves from things we own and treasure. The song tells us how our possessions tell us and people around us what we feel in our heart. As far as music goes, the song is a very introspective one that relies on a jazz-influenced indie-folk genre, complete with vocals that seem like they could collapse at any time, accompanied by slow, weeping upright bass.
“If I Could”provides an expansive atmosphere right from the start through the sounds of atmospheric synth pads with a delay effect and an echoed electric guitar note, as if you were standing in a hollow cathedral. In terms of lyrics, the song focuses on the problem and importance of learning how to receive love, assistance, and grace from other people when you have been, all your life, the strong person supporting everyone else. Sometimes the one who carries us, also needs some respite. The character in the song goes a step forward, though. She wishes she could take this person’s burdens and pain, even if it’s for a very short time. The music is also building up into an epic, uplifting crescendo with multi-layered choral harmonies and a march-like beat creating a sensation of enlightenment.
Next we have the song “Receive”. The song opens with yet another soft guitar melody. The song is about knowing that whatever we need in life is already in us, all we have to do is be open to tap in it and receive it. This song features some very nice violin sound, a wonderful vocal performance, and it leaves listeners curious, wanting to unlock their inner potential.
With the start of the second part of the project comes the song “Autumn Hasn’t Had Its Way”, the most upbeat song on the album yet, which features the clear sounds of fingerpicking in an acoustic style and is accompanied by a muffled rhythm, creating the sensation of leaves brushing against pavement. The theme takes the exploration deeper into the idea of the change of the seasons of one’s soul, portraying the struggle of a person who is reluctant to leave the comfort and warmth of summer and face the coming bitter change. Musically, Phillips’ voice gives a mature and reflective performance and uses her low range predominantly to demonstrate the accumulated wisdom and experience of life, which is further highlighted by the acoustic guitars and drum sounds in the arrangement.
At a much slower, intimate tempo, “Tell Me Again” begins with a solitary, mic’d acoustic guitar string being pulled by the finger, revealing every minuscule touch of the fingers and breathing on the guitar strings. In terms of the lyrics, it describes the very human desperation to have affirmations and assurances of love and trust said again and again when life gets too confusing to handle alone. It is a particularly delicate, intimate, and simple delivery in terms of vocals, carrying a very vulnerable, naked plea with just enough instrumentation to emphasize each syllable. It connects with one’s core, giving them a sense of validation and the reminder that sometimes it takes somebody else to tell you where you stand.
With the aim of building the energy back up towards the end, “One More Time” begins with a syncopated, a rhythmic violin melody and an engaging, energetic acoustic guitar riff that instantly pumps new life into the track. The theme in the lyrics centers around second chances, having the strength to go back into the ring of life, and taking the choice to be joyful and connect once again after being scarred before. Musically, it offers the brightest and most energetic arrangement on the EP, with a highly engaging rhythm section, bright harmonies, and an uplifting vocal delivery. Listeners cannot help but get a rush of renewed hope.
“Study In Opposites” is the last song on the EP, and it starts off with a mid-tempo chord floating in mid-air, followed by a lovely melody that leads into the instruments gently coming back into play. The lyrical idea is the final theme statement for the whole album, and it examines the connection between two different people. Like yin and yang, the character lovingly describes her relationship as a study in opposites because of how different they are, but still so much in sync; after all, they say that opposites attract. The music on the track varies between sparse and harmonious, and it is accompanied by a dueling vocal from Phillips that captures a feeling of vulnerable fragility combined with authority.
It would probably come across as quite an understatement to call Stephanie Phillips an artist who never stops evolving, but with Walking The Tightrope, she has certainly taken things a step further and blown every ceiling she could have put on herself apart. If you have kept up with her amazing career like I have, witnessing her artistic tapestry expand more and more with every album, then you know that Walking The Tightrope is the album that completes everything that she has always wanted to accomplish. The album itself stands testament to the incredible leap that she has taken as far as her constantly evolving style of music and lyrics are concerned. It is clearly evident that each and every moment of this masterpiece was born from sheer determination and dedication of both heart and body, and it is truly remarkable how much her unparalleled talent can shine through it. She has said that she put in all of the fierce passion and devotion to create it and, in spite of all doubts, hoped that we would be able to see the beating heart that it carries within, and let me assure you, my beloved Stephanie, your heart is more than seen. I have fallen head over heels for each and every track in this album, as I was completely mesmerized by how boldly they spoke of the rawest truths of human experience, reflected our vulnerabilities in the most honest light, and how brightly they depicted the reality in gold strokes. Congratulations on such an incredible release, queen; the bar has definitely been raised, and now I am counting seconds until I hear the next amazing masterpiece that you give us the gift of hearing.
Stream the “Walking The Tightrope” album on Spotify
Follow Stephanie Philips here and on her socials: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.
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