South Korean artist hanl unveils a deeply personal vision on Secretly Waiting to Become a Butterfly, an album that treats music as testimony rather than commodity. “Making music is my daily practice of true self expression,” hanl explains, a guiding ethos that runs through the record’s blend of spoken-word candor, cinematic instrumentals, and soulful pop flourishes.
The opening “Editor’s Notes” is a spoken-word piece, exploring artistry and personal honesty — declaring “my art is my testimony and prayer” and full expression of self, whilst treasuring art as a means of expression rather than for monetary benefit. “Piano Intro” ensues in gorgeous form, navigating from illuminated piano tones into a second half with glistening effervescence; strings intermingle here with a theatrical quality, into piano work that reminds fondly of Joe Hisaishi’s works. The subsequent “La Douleur Exquise” continues to showcase a dynamic range, here succeeding with a soulful pop immersion as moody acoustic guitars, glimpses of strings, and thumping rhythmic playfulness converge.
Another standout track, “Song from the Plane to Paris” commences a blissfully atmospheric one-two punch to close out the album. Gentle acoustic strums and rustling effects exude a meditative lo-fi charm. “Nothing is bigger than God and my faith,” serene vocals let out, contemplating on loyalty and expectations as a dreamily inviting vocal refrain emerges. Wordless vocal harmonies and gentle strums venture into a fully sating send-off, and then into the similarly lush closer “Mono No Aware.” Secretly Waiting to Become a Butterfly is a thorough success of an album from hanl.
—
“Song from the Plane to Paris” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
