'Head Above Water' is the latest release from London-based singer-songwriter, Nectar Woode. Her collection of tracks feels like a sweet fifteen-minute escape from the mundane, bleak days approaching as we inch closer towards the winter months. Her voice feels a pocket of joy, providing a glimpse of longer, brighter days. As we immerse ourselves into the radiant world Nectar has so delicately created, we are given a mini mental reset from the doom and gloom the world is currently being faced with.
How It’s Gotta Be
We fall into the narrative crafted by Woode with the first song, 'How It's Gotta Be'. This track taps into the idea of the daily grind and the tedious nature of life, waking up at 6:45am to another day within a never-ending cycle. It perfectly captures that feeling of being stuck on repeat with no real breakout into a change within the known routine with simple commentary like 'don't wanna cry at the station'. While this sets a particularly glum scene, Woode's attitude immediate flips the switch, infusing the song with optimism and hope. Lyrics like 'wanna make a change, / find a little peace, / I'll look out for you / if you look out for me' acknowledges how it can be easy to feel worn down by the world, but we can find strength in community. If we exchange love and compassion, and stay connected through the darkness, we can build a space where we feel seen and the weight on our shoulders is lifted.
Other lyrics like 'If you don’t talk, how can you be heard?' provide commentary on our relationships with others; how our needs can only be met once we understand and express them ourselves. Only then can the people we rely on listen and align themselves in ways to provide encouragement. While communication may not solve everything, there is a comfort in knowing others are going through a shared journey of persevering through a job that brings little joy or prospect.
30 Degrees
'30 Degrees' feels like a perfect song to grab an ice-cold beverage of your choice and head out on a summer's evening. Its laid-back production, paired with airy, breezy vocals repeating 'you give me summertime' makes the track addictive. The track radiates a refreshing, warm energy as it captures the essence of summer love and endless possibilities it may bring about if we allow ourselves to dive into what is right in front of us. Overall, this is the perfect form of escapsism and allows us to relive the joy of sunsoaked days with loved ones.
Grow
'Grow' offers a warm hug to reassure anyone navigating a tough period within their life. It reminds us that the journey is not linear, sometimes our goals can seem out of reach. Fate may seem to work against us, but hope remains to shine a light into the darkness. In an interview with Wonderland Magazine, Woode said that the song is 'like a diary entry to myself after all the sadness had come out, and accepting what had happened and needing to move on with my life.' The track is vulnerable at its core as she captures the emotion of tackling hardship. She has mastered the balance act between accepting unforgiving realities that can be thrown at us, but offering the optimism that is essential in order to push forward and pull ourselves out of the thick of it with lines such as 'I'll find a way to lean towards the sun again'.
We are offered chances to grow in life, and even if we cannot quite see the outcome of being able to flourish once more, we are capable of turning things around. Lyrics like 'I'm learning on this journey of mine / I can't control the world all the time' allows a real acceptance of our inability to dictate the people or course of events around us, but life is about letting things unfold as they come and learning from this. With the continuation of her signature tranquil sound, this song is a gentle reminder to keep going and will be an ideal inclusion to any 'hopecore' playlist.
Head Above Water
This track provides the perfect note to end on as a conclusion for the whole EP. With an apt title, 'Head Above Water' is a fitting reminder that we are all trying to stay afloat during the unpredictable tides of our lives. As Nectar has guided us through the emotions she has faced in this period of her live, it seems we have reached a place of adapting the ability to tune out any negative noise, and embrace positivity on the path to healing. She is almost giving us affirmations in thoughts like, 'All the mountains we are climbing / All the battles we are fighting / Could get smaller / Could get shorter / Everyday'. Individuals may exclaim their struggles loudly, while others may quietly hurt, but everyone has times of just trying to survive our own rough waters, and here she is providing motivation that no matter what, things can improve. This song also lends itself to allowing her vocals to take centre stage, truly highlighting the beauty of the texture and tone of her voice. For anyone just discovering Nectar's sound, this track is a perfect showcase of her talent.
Nectar Woode is on the rise, and fast. This five-track EP allows beauty and optimism to shine through from its core, and the way its narrative has been nurtured and crafted so intentionally is a true testament to Woode and the artist she is. This body of work will be on-repeat all the way through to summer and beyond and is evident that it is only the beginning for Nectar.
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