Some may argue that there is a line between fantasy and reality – but there are times when they blur, as is the case with Parabola West's debut album Stars Will Light the Way. We are over the moon to announce that Stars Will Light the Way will be available to the public on Friday April 29th, alongside a truly exquisite limited edition art book.
Through Stars Will Light the Way, Parabola West offers a magic-infused experience for the listener's ears, eyes and energy. The album was recorded at the healing frequency of 432Hz, and each song centres upon a different character, sharing an aspect of their life. West beautifully melds sound, vision and symbols to guide the listener's imagination in painting their stories.
It's a unique package for a New Zealand artist to release, and whilst West has been in the process of lovingly crafting the album for the last five years, she has also been intricately involved with the creation of this stunning book.
While Stars Will Light The Way will be available on CD and digitally for those just wishing to have the music, she will also be releasing a special limited edition deluxe package that includes the CD and a 48-page hardcover fantasy book of lyrics and images.
Amplify magazine says, "Exclusive indeed, limited to 100 copies – a unique artistic offering that sees the artist transformed into a different character to represent each song." Here we meet Frozen Heart, Haunted Hannah, Moon Witch, Sky Painter, Melancholy Mermaid, Dreaming Dryad, Winged Warrior, Memory Mirror, Steampunk Sorceress, Flower Girls, and Nephilim’s Daughter."
On April 29, Parabola West's Stars Will Light the Way will be released everywhere digitally, including Spotify and Apple Music.
Parabola West also releases her new single, 'The Best Thing', on April 29th, to give you a taste of the album. She says of the song, "'The Best Thing' is about the feeling of being emotionally under water, adrift in the sea of uncertainty because you've lost your compass."
Listen to 'The Best Thing' here.
About the creation of her magical world, Parabola West says, "When I discovered the piano as a young woman, I found a great comfort in playing it and turning my poems into songs. I found that when I focused the chaos of my emotions that way, I felt immediately calmer and more in control of my life."
"When I discovered my love for math and physics, I learned how a parabola can be used to focus light onto a fixed point (the magnifying glass trick used to start a fire with the sun). It occurred to me that when I focus my emotions into music, I become like the parabola - hence the name!"
The songs were brought to life through collaboration with producer Scott Newth (The Datsuns, Cornerstone Roots, The Checks, Anika Moa, the Big Day Out and more) and co-producer Andrew Newth at BLKHUS Studio. West says, "We started with a demo and a mood or 'vibe sheet' for each track and fleshed the production out around that backbone. Funnily enough, there was never a time when all three of us were in the same room on this album. There was a lot of space for individual creativity and experimentation, and it served the music beautifully."
"The book concept began as my character descriptions for each song, and from there Melodie McColl pulled together an incredible team to transform me into each creature." The photographers were Trinitynavar, Richard Laing and Rakib Rax; with hair, makeup, and costumes by Melodie McColl, Kieran Growcott and Siobhan O'Toole.
To date, the singles released from the album have been embraced by a wide range of media both in Aotearoa and overseas. The most recent single 'No One Can Get Me Here' has been played on Colin Smith's Countryfolk Show UK, Strummers & Dreamers UK, Trevor Krueger's Folk Show UK, Sunday Live on West Norfolk Radio UK, Roger Williams' World of Difference on Blues and Roots Radio Canada & Australia and Neil Vessey's Folk Pilot UK.
Locally, 'No One Can Get Me Here' featured on NZ Musician's Hatchlings playlist, Raglan Community Radio, and the song reached No. 2 on the Radio One Top 11 two weeks in a row – thanks so much to the people of Ōtepoti/Dunedin!
It was also the 13th Floor's New Song of the Day, and received lovely reviews from Songbroker, and UK blog Sound Read Six.
Upon the release of 'No One Can Get Me Here', earlier today one fan said, "Just magical! Feels like there's a little bit of Kate Bush energy in there."
Visit Parabola West's website.
Reviews
Reviews of 'No One Can Get Me Here'
"Her enchanting and mystical song-writing has mesmerised us all over the years and it seems she has only just begun her story...Piano breaks through like sunlight, a flute solo by Parabola's sister Alex knits yet more feeling into the mix...the music culminates in a medley of vocals and movement." – Rowan Blair Colver, Sound Read Six/Alternative Fruit.com
"Parabola West's new single 'No one Can Get Me Here' is a gorgeous upbeat slice of folk-pop and an ode to nature - just what we need in these unsettling times..." – Songbroker Music
Reviews of 'Hannah' (released November 2021)
"This is a mesmerizing ethereal tale of the thin veil between the physical and spiritual worlds and recalls Dead Can Dance’s rendition of ‘I Am Stretched On Your Grave’... The mood is heightened by the use of the medieval hurdy-gurdy and the haunting Swedish folk instrument Nyckelharpa." – Amplify Music Magazine
"Parabola will take you to the depths of what warms you up with a bit of Glastonbury-vibes popped in...'Hannah' promises to be no different to the attractive fantasy-reality she has shared with fans in the past." – Ashlea Harris, Welcome to the Gig
"This New Zealand based electronic folk artist is a magical destiny for music fans the world over, and the new song only makes us love her sound even more...Beautiful and haunting chorus notes fill the air with mystical charm as forlorn lyrics seek endlessly for the missing." – Rowan Blair Colver, Sound Read Six
"Drawing on inspiration from Celtic & Nordic folk roots, Parabola West's music is a lush soundscape of electronica, organic instrumentation, and ethereal vocals. Ancient music for the next generation." – Songbroker Music
Previous reviews
“Her music sits comfortably in the same territory as Aurora, Eivør, CHVRCHES, Lu Flur, Agnes Obel, Loreena McKennitt, Sjón, and even Bat For Lashes. With such immense talent, it was just a matter of time before Parabola West’s music would reach American shores.” – The Big Takeover
"Just brilliant...ancient folk in electronic pop dreamery. An uplifting recipe when submerged in electronica, which she has flawlessly achieved here... merges the common denominator between Irish/Scottish and Scandinavian influences, with melodies that are stuff of fantasy" – The Spill Magazine
"A sublime blend of folk and electronic influences which is taken to another level when combined with the beautiful and haunting vocals of Amy Tucker. Part Eivør, part CHVRCHES, but very much original" – AnalogueTrash
"A very accomplished and talented songwriter, with an ear for a deceptively simple but often stunning song. Extraordinary talent, both as a songwriter and performer" – NZ Musician