Belfast-born artist Mahuna’s latest single, “Underneath a Hazel Tree,” released this September 6, is a heartfelt and atmospheric ballad. Recorded live in Berlin’s Tritonus Studio and produced by Guy Sternberg, the song is a coming home to music and also home itself.
Opening with a relaxing, warm, soothing acoustic melody strumming, “Underneath a Hazel Tree” lets you know instantly that you are introduced to a nostalgic ballad. The gentility sets the stage for Mahuna’s deep, husky, and weathered vocals, which deliver the song with a sincerity setting in gratitude. Carola McMahon’s ever-so-subtle and soft backing vocals create this delicate aura and halo around his voice, which only makes the song even more ethereal to listen to.
The verses are rich in imagery as they describe an old house and the walk through the woods while pulling us into the emotional core of the song. Mahuna sings sonorously and softly in the chorus, “Still I see my father standing underneath a hazel tree. Will I ever understand it what he’s whispering to me?” The line may just take your visions to a forest clearing where the serenity of nature and the weight of family memories entwine to make you forget all your woes.
The organic instrumental arrangement enriches the ballad, with Miles Perkin’s double bass and glimmering vibraphone tones by Hauke Renken incorporated to create a dreamy atmosphere.
What started as a creative piece of music enthralled by the ancient woodlands outside Sligo, “Underneath a Hazel Tree” became a milestone for Mahuna, which enjoined his ancestors, descendent, and craft all in one. It’s something that will stand the test of time and is definitely worth listening to at least once.
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Photo Credit: Tobias Kruse/Ostkreuz
Review by: Naomi Joan