Rawlanda - Paranoid
Paranoid starts with a hard-hitting drumbeat that immediately catches your attention. Every downbeat is resounding and deep. And when Rawlanda starts whispering the word paranoid, almost creepily, so close to your ears, the tone is set. This track is unsettling with an undertone of melancholia. The layered harmonies are haunting when paired with the almost gritty production. It has an imperfect feel to it because of the two different harmonies in each ear, which definitely adds to how unnerving the sound is. The use of empty spaces is a great way to create anticipation and this song is a great example of that. The whispering at the beginning creates texture and depth. It also feels like the production explores every corner of the soundscape. Makes it feel like we are sitting in the room with her as she sings. And her vocals are perfect for the R&B genre—soulful, dark and melancholic. The singer-songwriter's background in musical theatre is very apparent in this record. The slow build-up from the whispering to the harmonies and the mostly unchanging melody feeling like an unending cycle, all work together very well to create the feeling of paranoia. There is never a moment of reprieve from the narrative sound of the song. It makes you want to look over your shoulders all the time. Paranoid feels very careful and deliberate in its creation. The focus seemed to completely be on the story and how it can be felt through the sound and the vocals. And Rawlanda succeeds at doing exactly that. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her upcoming album.
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