31 January 2024 Reviews
Known as an artist with a flourishing sound filled with reflective and confessional writing, Cork-based singer/songwriter Sarah Hickey has spent the last few months steadily revealing the bewitching sounds she has crafted in the studio. Performing both her original music and supporting fellow artists in venues across Ireland have given Sarah Hickey a wondrous reputation, and with previous support from the likes of Wonderland, LOCK Magazine and Backseat Mafia, Sarah’s latest musical endeavours promise to entice and impress even more tastemakers.
Sarah Hickey is returning with a new single entitled ‘Slow Burner’. The new single blends Sarah’s soft and ethereal approach to songwriting with a brooding electric guitar, which, alongside the reverberant drums and blurred synth effects, evokes a gloomy but resilient emotional atmosphere. Sarah’s voice is as gentle as ever, the artist using rich but subtle layers of harmony to boost the poignance of her lead melodies. As the track grows, so does the instrumentation, introducing swirling melodies from saxophones, pianos, flutes and strings that move in and out of unison. This soundscape brings out the radiance from the sorrowful before the final moments return to a sombre solo piano.
On the lyrical themes she weaves into the music, Sarah adds, "Slow Burner is about leaning into your strengths and trying to avoid comparing yourself to others"
‘Slow Burner’ joins recent singles ‘Doesn’t Fit’, ‘Out Of The Night’ and ‘Take A Minute’ as a track from her forthcoming debut album and once again features Sarah’s artistic talents with paint on the cover. An artist who continues to grow in audience and industry attention, Sarah Hickey is set to have a pivotal 2024.