Ahead of Debut Album, Paris Paloma Basks in the Entrancing, Ominous Flame of "the warmth"
Photo: Phoebe Fox
With the fiery glow of her latest single, “the warmth,” Paris Paloma beckons listeners ever closer to the release of her debut album, Cacophony, set to release August 30.
Epitomizing Paloma’s poetic tongue and singular folk style, “the warmth” exists in the hushed tones and epiphanies of living light. A rich, plucked acoustic guitar sits on a bed of vocals, building into a world of blossoming strings and occasional electronic rhythms. Paloma shapes a soundscape that is simultaneously ominous, entrancing, and fittingly warm.
Artfully arranged, the background vocals drive much of the fluid movement in “the warmth.” There are always multiple currents intertwining in disjointed unison—while one layer swells in silky waves, another marches with clipped percussiveness beneath. Paloma has found a crossroads of melodrama and understatement, pairing these soaring harmonies with a lead vocal that gets up close and personal with listeners. Her delicately determined melodies are lush with meaning and delivered with an immeasurable amount of control. You can hear the power bubbling under the surface of her words, siphoning emotion into vocal restraint and letting the lyrics and instrumentation lead the theatrics as she sings, “I ate up all the light / and it shone through my teeth / and I tasted sunbeams / emanating from me.”
Paloma accompanies “the warmth” with a stirring music video, complete with beautifully ritualistic choreography and visuals. Viewers have already begun to comment on the ancient symbols of feminine resilience the artist captures in her gentle yet hell-bent vision of water meeting flames. There’s also collective praise for her depiction of recovery, demonstrating the impactful reach of the song.
As a whole, “the warmth” has an undeniable presence, making space for itself with a purposeful dynamic arc and vocal performance. Paris Paloma continues to reveal more of her enrapturing debut album, Cacophony, and “the warmth” is one step closer to what is sure to be a visionary release.
Watch "the warmth" video below:
