What is unique to “Love & Grief” is how the overarching ideas of love and grief are tied with time and memory which Sophia Stephens incorporates to her latest album. This is a very specific album and it is best if the listener takes just the time to listen to all songs on this album without skipping anything, as this is where one gets the full essence of Stephens’ journey as he reflects on life’s strongest feelings. Sophia not only composed all the lyrics and tunes but also came up with many of the baseline chords; gifted producers helped to give texture to Sophia’s highly emotive music vision by creating a deep, enveloping sound.
Right from the introductory track, one can identify with Stephens’ reflective self, in the midst of a bouncy, positive outlook of life with songs that address strength, hope, and what she has always been interested in throughout her life, the bare aspects of life. The title song “Love & Grief” simply has bumpy rhythm accompanied by bright tunes which makes listener feel that s/he is both on earth and in the heaven. Here, even her lyrics discuss love in terms of protection and open defenselessness, which is a beautiful contradiction of power that love contains in it.
As before, Stephens is not afraid to leave her comfort zone and mix it up; in the 8th song titled, “Time Passes By,” which is more of a pop-soul cry in the dark ballad, backed up by emotive strings and piano. Its tune was the one of time, the passing of which do not leave joy but nostalgia – both happy and sad. Stephens’ gentle, strong voice adds a reassuring timbre to this embracing of the march of time.
“Up in Flames,” “Things Will Never Be the Same,” and “Little Things” brings out that nostalgia with acoustic touch and neo-classical arrangements and Stephens’ voice brings out that quintessential homegrown sentiment.
‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Time Passes By’ find existentialist themes presented through alt folk music, and this sense of time and flowing is helped by the imagery the band has used with moons, planets and suns. The occasions described in the song are as sad as the shroud that is time and all the more timeless for being sad, hopeless and accepting of the course of time.
On the other hand, “Get Go” and “Enough is Enough” are high tempered energetic marinated with alt pop that adds spunky hip hop riffs and beats making it more vivid, anthemic then self reflected than some of the songs in the album.
The album closes with “Beautiful Life,” an anthem of gratitude and contemplation, blending energetic drums and choral guitars to give a warm contrast to its existential themes. It glisten with traces of dream-pop, given how coherent it sounds as contemporary music married to Stephens’ husky and commanding voice.
‘Love & Grief’ can be nothing less than a tasty mosaic of feelings and thoughts and it has become possible through Sophia Stephens.
