Emerging alt-pop singer-songwriter Ellen Beth Abdi has shared her latest single, “Sad Chord,” which is guileless and profoundly affecting. With her deft, witty, lyrical construction and effortlessly melodic touch, the Manchester-based artist further honors a distinctive niche within the city’s bustling music scene. “Sad Chord” is a tantalizing preview of what’s to come, as a highly awaited 10-track collection is ready to drop on May 23rd.
“Sad Chord” doesn’t wait to draw you into its intricate weave of sound from the first note. Ellen’s otherworldly and forceful voice flows seamlessly across a rich yet sporadic arrangement. It’s a song built on tension and release, unwilling to follow a too predictable path just when you think you know where it’s going. It changes course, keeping your heart in your throat as best as possible.
Lyrically, “Sad Chord” operates on double meanings and emotional opposites, taking advantage of Ellen’s songwriting prowess. It has a magnetic pull between melancholy and defiance, as if the track accepts and resists sadness. It’s a precarious balance that only a songwriter of Ellen’s level can achieve.
What makes “Sad Chord” compelling is its ability to feel deeply personal and universally relatable. Whether you’re lured in by the haunting instrumentation, the clever wordplay, or the plain old intensity of feeling in every note, there’s something for everyone here. It’s a song that stays with you long, its melodies reverberating through the mind like a memory you’re unwilling to release. Manchester’s Ellen Beth Abdi reinforces her status as one of the city’s most thrilling underground talents with “Sad Chord.” But judging from this single, she won’t remain under the radar long.
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