Berlin-based singer-songwriter DALEE reveals a moment of deep intimacy for her listeners in her new neo-soul single, “Apple Tree.” DALEE is a master of stitching together contemporary R&B, jazz, and pop, creating a rich, organic soundscape tinged with smooth and emotive rawness.
Penned during a train ride after making the hard call to end a relationship, “Apple Tree” occupies that bittersweet in-between between love and loss. As apple trees flashed by her window, DALEE was writing the first verse on the spot, and the impulse ran out of her, an impassioned explosion that would form the backbone of this raw and beautiful offering.
At its root, “Apple Tree” is a song about the struggle to let someone go when they still possess a portion of your love. It’s a song that refuses to gloss over the intricacies of the heart, the yearning, the doubts, and the slow understanding that sometimes love is not enough. It’s just a decision, a pre-chorus internal dialogue, with the two opposing voices fighting over it. One part of the protagonist can’t get over it, and the other wants them to move on.
Musically, “Apple Tree” is as enchanting as its narrative. With a live string quartet, rough bass, and live drums, the track breathes with an enticing, organic warmth. Its sparse but enveloping arrangement allows DALEE’s voice to take center stage, soft yet loud, wafting seamlessly in and out of the instrumentation. A subtle homage to Erykah Badu is sewn throughout, a peek into one of DALEE’s biggest influences that gives the song’s already riveting atmosphere an extra layer of soulful authenticity.
Also available is a visually striking music video, transporting listeners deeper into DALEE’s motifs of contemplation and authenticity. It’s a visual record of the feelings in the song, the melancholy but beautiful, sorrowful but very human feelings. “Apple Tree” mediates growth, emotional resilience, and the challenging but essential practice of letting go. DALEE has given us a haunting piece of music that draws us in and pushes us away while reminding us of a time in a relationship when we were forced to come to terms with a love that was not meant to last.
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Connect with DALEE on Instagram – @dalee_music
