When I Die by Wanaka: Review

by Damien Reid September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

When I Die by Wanaka: Review

Music can be a wonderful friend, whether you need an adrenaline surge to get out of bed, a companion on a long car ride, or a shoulder to cry on when going through difficult times. Wakana, a French-born Israeli artist, knows the power of good music better than anybody else. And with the debut single “When I Die,” a poignant folk-rock tune, he embarked on his artistic adventure.

The deep, sultry electric guitar interludes, in contrast with the serene acoustic guitar plucking and clear harmonica sounds, keep the flow of the song rolling and engaging the listener throughout its entirety. The husky, charismatic voice of Wakana carries with it a wealth of profound feelings and musings on life, love, and loss. These compositions demonstrate how emotive music can be with a minimum of instruments and production flourishes. His poetic treatment of somber themes such as death and dying conveys a sense of liberation, acceptance, and calm. The fact that he was able to imbue the soundscape with such a sense of intimacy and compassion is incredible and absolutely remarkable.

Quotable lyrics:

“And when the time comes I will go

Leave everything behind

To places she will never know

True self I wish to find”

Wanaka’s music career is just getting started, but it’s already off to a strong start. This year is going to see the release of his first album, which is titled “Beneath the Surface.” I’m sure this is something you’d want to stay for.