Music is often a lot like fine wine and good cheese; the best takes time. When so many records are pushed along through the corporate machine, there’s real beauty about an album that’s had time to breathe and grow. When the Water Stills, the debut album from Bunurong Country/Mornington Peninsula-based folk artist Mietta, is one of those special releases.
When the Water Stills came from a two-year, local community-grant-funded storytelling project. These songs developed naturally through Mietta’s performances and place-based gatherings, creating an indelible connection between the songs, the stories they tell, and the people and place that gave them life.
“The project is a lived reminder to go slow, tread softly, and be where our feet are – a practice often lost in the constant movement of our world and the music industry,” Mietta’s press release reads. That ethos really sets the tone for this special collection of songs.
I was immediately drawn in to Mietta’s world with the opening track “Margot.” When so many female artists want to stand out by belting or performing runs, Mietta’s subtler approach really stands out. The bare-bones acoustic arrangement beautifully supports her stunning voice, which reminds me of revered female storytellers like Sara Bareilles and Sarah McLachlan. Mietta feels like she’s having a direct conversation with listeners as she shares her story of getting her morning coffee and the universal experience of missing someone special.
I felt such a sense of calm as each song flowed beautifully from one to the next. With each one there was another story to connect to. I was especially drawn to “From Your Daughter,” which perfectly encapsulates the push and pull of healthy relationships between parents and their children, the oft-competing desires for independence and nurturing that exist all at once. “Young Years” is another absolute gem, a slow-burning ballad dripping in nostalgia.
The album reaches a turning point with “Eden” and “Choose to Care.” These tracks are unexpected, more experimental, more dynamic than the gentle folk music that came before. “Eden” has a cinematic feel reminiscent of a lost recording from Florence + The Machine. Then I was swept away by the pulsating beat of “Choose to Care.” Listening to these songs almost felt like reaching the mouth of the river, where the gentle flow meets the ocean and the water becomes more volatile, unpredictable.
But then the water calms as we return to that quiet, acoustic space with the penultimate number, “The Valley Song.” The title track is the perfect closer, a stripped-back number anchored by the foundations of Mietta’s music: her stunning voice and the warm tones of an acoustic guitar. This song feels like it brings us home, a little lighter and sonically nourished.
When the Water Stills is out now on all major streaming platforms and available as a high-quality digital download via Bandcamp.
Images used with permission from Mietta
