An exploration of pop and poetry
oh my is the maiden album from NADINE, composed of singer Nadia Hulett and instrumentalists Carlos Hernandez and Juilian Fader of the band Ava Luna. Threads of funk and jazz run throughout the album, with the standout feature being Hulett’s lyricism and honey-sweet vocals. Best described as experimental pop, the album plays within the boundaries of the genre and deftly showcases the talents of each member.
The opening track “Nook” sets the tone for the whole album. NADINE treats the audience to acoustic percussion and piano chords that drive the song forward with funky bass and synth lines that keep the sound from being too basic. Of course, the star of the track is the gorgeously delivered poetic lyrics. The following track “Ultra Pink” is very fun musically, with a playful refrain and a psychedelic explosion towards the end.
The biggest shortcoming of the album is the band leaning into the lounge side of jazz and allowing the percussion to drift repetitively through a song. However, the complexities in lyrics make up for any moments the instruments become disinteresting. A standout track, “That Neon Sign,” breaks from the drums, turning instead to allow Hulett’s voice and lyrics to take charge, highlighting them with ambient synths. The next track, “Pews,” immediately brings the tempo back up, highlighting the percussion for the entire first minute before Hulett begins crooning.
Much like the earlier “That Neon Sign,” the later “Contigo” delivers another haunting standout track, featuring more prominent guitar than most of the other tracks and delivering Hulett’s voice through more distortion and raw stylings. “Can’t Be Helped” is a journey through multiple styles; at times it feels like soft indie-rock, yet there are moments of gentle jazz and even another touch of psychedelia as the song dissolves at its end. The album closes with “Peace in the Valley,” a pleasant and shoe-gazey highlight.
Overall, oh my delivers a pop album that pushes past the stereotypes of packaged junk-food music to deliver a thoughtful and fun listen. At its best, it elevates the genre of pop through notable lyricism and fun experimental instrumentation. As a premiere album for this group, it is a tantalizing promise of things to come should they continue; the album proves that the individual talents of the artists complement each other and produce a sound greater than the sum of its parts.
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