Way back in 2021, we reviewed Noralyn’s debut album Slow Thinker, describing the self-produced record as a triumph. Now she returns with her second album release Wake the Dawn, and I’m pleased to announce that it’s just as fabulous as that first record!
By Jane Howkins
The Australian singer-songwriter has really outdone herself on Wake the Dawn, showing that the five year creation period was indeed necessary. This record was also produced by Noralyn herself, with the ten tracks contributing towards her imaginative body of work in fine fashion, searching for light and hope along the way. We start off with Summerland, a warm and expansive piece of work that is constructed nicely around Noralyn’s ethereal vocal style. The piano dances prettily in the background of this single, creating an optimistic vibe. Light emerges next, kicking things off with a flowing piano melody that serves as one of the immediate highlights of the record. The stringed instruments that appear towards the end of the song are a nice touch too, creating a playful motif that builds Light up towards its satisfying climax.
Progress is a little more introspective, taking on an almost folk-pop sound at times. It’s another song that starts out slowly before rising up further, changing the dynamics in a smooth way. It’s quite a relatable piece of music in terms of the lyrical content too, which may make this track a fan favourite. Fall is a little darker than Progress, starting out with a quiet, melancholic piano melody. This allows Noralyn’s vocals to take pride of place here, hovering over the piano in a way that expresses her vulnerable lyrics poignantly.
Noralyn goes in a completely different direction on the short interlude track Hopefuls, opening without any instrumentation at all – instead, the vocals are layered across each other, sounding like a gospel choir at times. As you might have guessed from the song’s title, Praying has a spiritual theme, operating efficiently within this hauntingly beautiful ballad. The piano has a near-lullaby quality at times, making for an intimate piece of music that lays Noralyn’s inner thoughts bare.
Then we come to Sad Stories, another deep and introspective number on Wake the Dawn. There’s a brooding quality here, reminding me of the singer-songwriters that became big in the 90s, such as Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor and Alanis Morissette. Holy War appears next, building darkly on its predecessor by exploring issues of both internal and external conflict, all at once. It’s a beautiful ballad and Noralyn puts her vocals to wonderful use on the intense chorus as she belts the lyrics out.
Finally, it’s time for one more ballad in the form of You, the tenth and last song on Wake the Dawn. It’s an entirely piano-based tune (apart from the vocals), serving as an intimate breath of fresh air after the intensity of the previous song. It’s perhaps a little understated at times, but the subtlety really does sound gorgeous underneath the vocals. It’s perfectly clear from listening to this record that Noralyn is highly skilled at what she does – both in terms of composing music and producing her own songs.
Wake the Dawn is a fantastically executed second album, proving that the sophomore slump isn’t always set in stone. Noralyn is clearly an artist in total command of her craft, as the five years it took to create this record prove. Some of the songs take a couple of listens to fully appreciate, but your patience will be rewarded if this is your type of music, marking this singer-songwriter as one to watch in the future!
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