Julia King - Lovers Lament
Long Island folk-rock singer-songwriter Julia King recently released “Lovers Lament,” a song King describes as “a ballad about a jilted lover, suffering the inevitable loneliness from misappropriated affection.”
Julia King
“Lovers Lament” is the second of a series of tracks King will release in the next few months in preparation for the debut of her full-length album, slated to drop during the summer 2019. The song reflects King’s love for Motown music and prototypes like Fats Domino, one of the first to utilize jazzy piano triplets in his songs.
King’s taste for classic rock and Motown came from her father, while it was her grandmother who turned her on to Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline. Although music was her passion, King decided to pursue exercise science at Belmont University. After graduating, she went to work at Equinox. Later, she lived in New York, where she began writing songs and performing locally. In order to allow more time for music, she became a sommelier.
In 2016, she dropped her debut EP, The Morning After, followed by two singles, “One Way Ticket To Somewhere” (2017) and “Cannonball” (2018).
King’s voice, plush with sultry hues, imbues the lyrics with aching wisps of nostalgia, as she recalls a delightful spark of emotion now extinguished, but not forgotten.
According to King, “No one wants to listen to you cry, but they will listen to you sing about it. And, if you’re any good, you won’t be the only one with tear drops in the end. It’s not just about making people cry, but making them feel the music.” She sings about what she’s personally experienced.
“Lovers Lament” opens on a bluesy piano atop a tight, crisp groove. A cavernous bass line and straight forward beat drive the lush, oozing melody, which begins austerely and then swells with color and energy, as the piano is joined by a brimming organ. The harmonics expand and embrace glossy gospel radiance.
King’s voice, plush with sultry hues, imbues the lyrics with aching wisps of nostalgia, as she recalls a delightful spark of emotion now extinguished, but not forgotten.
“Lovers Lament” makes no pretense of stoic resignation. Rather it lets all the anguish of heartbreak gush out with searing energy. Julia King has it going on.
