Music Discoveries that I’m Totally in To: Daughter

Okay, I just realized this could be number one in a potential post series. I’ve never done a series of posts before, so this is exciting! I’m thinking I could do this with both music and books, since those are two of my favorite things. So, stay tuned…there may be more of these in the future.

Anywho, today I’m talking about Daughter, a musical group that hails from North London (information courtesy of their Facebook page). *Side note–I always fall hardcore for musical groups that hail from the British Isles…they’re definitely doing something right over there with their music.*

I first became aware of Daughter when one of their songs, “Landfill”, was released as a free song on iTunes a while back. I took a listen to it on the preview and thought it sounded okay so, being that it was free and all, I downloaded it. I’ve always had mixed feelings about this song and because it was the only song I had ever heard by Daughter, I immediately decided that I had mixed feelings about the group itself (I’ve discovered that I make too many assumptions…I need to work on not doing that all the time). It’s a beautiful song, don’t get me wrong, but there’s just something about it that sets me off a little bit…I think because the song is filled with so much confusion and anger. Case in point: “I want you so much but I hate your guts.” What cheery lyrics we have there! The song leaves me feeling unsettled and anxious. Now that I’m thinking about this, it’s pretty exceptional that this song left me with such a profound emotional reaction. I should have paid attention to that and given the group a second chance a while ago, since it’s not often that music can do that.

Fast forward a couple of years to 2014. This is a few weeks ago, in fact. I’m listening to something on Spotify, I don’t remember what, and Daughter comes up in the “Related Artists” section on the page. “Oh,” I thought, “I have a song by them. I wonder what they’re other stuff sounds like.” I click on the link and proceed to listen to If You Leave, Daughter’s first full album, which was released in 2013.

Needless to say, this album has been on almost constant replay on Spotify for the last few days. I love it. I’m considering spending money on the album so I can have it in my collection. I don’t remember the last time I loved an album this much. The singer’s voice is so hauntingly beautiful. The songs have an almost ethereal quality to them.

I don’t know if it’s because of the winter weather or the fact that I’m really stressed out with all of my school commitments right now, but If You Leave is just what I need right now. Music can be so powerful and this album is proof of that. It feels like home. I just want to crawl into Daughter’s music and let it lull me into a deep, dreamless sleep. Unfortunately, sleep hasn’t been at the top of my priority list lately; it is nice background music during homework for the time being. Daughter does something magical here, something that happens all too rarely in the music industry today. Maybe it’s a good thing that it’s rare, though. It makes “If You Leave” and the rest of Daughter’s music all the more enchanting.

Is there an album or song that you find to be particularly powerful?

What recent music discoveries have you made (if any)?