Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn’s collaborative album Quiet in a World Full of Noise, released in October 2024, is a transcendental auditory experience. The captivating blend of ambient, experimental, and ethereal jazz influences showcases the pair’s chemistry as they create a soundscape that feels both introspective and expansive.
The New Orleans native, Richard, has been in the music industry exploring sound with electropop, jazz, and dance for over three decades. Fans familiar with Richard’s past work, particularly her solo career, may find Quiet in a World Full of Noise surprising. Known for her dynamic fusion of R&B, electronic, and dance, Richard takes a sharp left turn here, stepping away from the high-energy, genre-bending sounds of her previous albums like New Breed and Second Line. Instead, she embraces minimalism and subtlety, allowing the music to breathe in a meditative way.
Zhan, a New York-based musician and composer, explores various genres, including chamber jazz, folk, ambient and modern composition. His discography mainly includes instrumental pieces ranging from solo piano works and collaborations. His piano and electronic pieces work can be heard in Quiet in a World Full of Noise. The result is a sonic landscape that feels peaceful.
The piano work throughout the album deepens its somber but peaceful mood, particularly in the opening track, “Stains.” Richard’s soft, ethereal vocals blend seamlessly with the delicate piano, creating a beautiful, heartfelt song. The lyrics poignantly suggest the lingering presence of love that refuses to fade: “Now I’m wearing life a little baggy / Even with alterations it doesn’t fit me / And every seam is pulling me gently / My fabric won’t clean / Your love’s painted me / Your love stains.”
Throughout the album, it feels like walking alongside the musicians as they reflect on life lessons and personal experiences. In “Traditions,” the duo contemplates life’s struggles, tying them to cultural practices and beliefs. The song touches on how these customs shape their worldview: “My mama cover the mirror when it rains / She’ll lay that brick in front of the door just in case / You call it superstitions / I call it traditions / You call it lucky / I call it blessings.” This track offers insight into Richard’s way of living and her values. Building on this theme, the following song, “Diet,” continues exploring these personal philosophies.
All twelve tracks on the album also suggest a vulnerability in how both artists approach the music. Richard, usually a powerhouse vocalist, pulls back here, showing restraint and subtlety. It’s a refreshing change that highlights her versatility as an artist. Meanwhile, Zahn’s minimalist approach to the arrangements adds to the feeling of quiet introspection, making the album feel like a conversation between two souls rather than a typical musical collaboration.
Richard and Zahn allow silence and space to become central elements of the composition, letting the listener fill in the emotional gaps with their thoughts and feelings. There’s also a sense of vulnerability in how both artists approach the music. Richard, usually a powerhouse vocalist, pulls back here, showing restraint and subtlety. It’s a refreshing change that highlights her versatility as an artist.
Quiet in a World Full of Noise isn’t an album that will grab you with immediate hooks or catchy choruses. Instead, it unfolds gradually, inviting you to sit with it, reflect, and immerse yourself in its tranquil beauty. Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn created an album that doesn’t shout but speaks in whispers, drawing the listener into a deeper, quieter space.
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