Your People
[Alternative R&B] A song by Eva Swanson
Hi Pal,
It took almost a year for Eva Swanson to release a new single and there were times this year that I thought I was going to have to wait till 2024. Thankfully, I was wrong. My first encounter with her music was on the 2022 song, Path of Life, which was a collaboration between her, Calibleubird, and KnowGood. Two more singles dropped last year namely, Beloved (which was a collaboration with Jemimah Paine) and Make Myself At Home.
Since my encounter with her music, I’ve been impressed by how she balances the powerful aspects of her vocal delivery with delicate and vulnerable facets. It’s something I’ve always respected about her sound and why I’ve patiently waited for about 11 months for a new single.
It’s not like I can blame her or anything. Like most artists, she has quite a busy life and anyone who follows her on social media will know how involved she is in the Christian creatives’ community, particularly Fam Jam and One Big Family. Still, gems like Your People remind me of the reasons why voices like hers are needed on the scene.
The song is an expression of longing for the time when we will be reunited with our Lord again. It starts off with the words:
I wonder what it would be like
To rise and meet You face to face
With my hands in yours
Trust in your holy love in an endless day
Lyrically, intimacy is at the heart of her approach to the tune, and I love how smooth and groovy it is from an instrumental standpoint. The feel and ambiance of it are helped by the intermittent background vocal chants “hmmmm hmmmm yeaaaah yeaaah” and Swanson’s intricate vocal runs. Also, the chord progression is pretty simple and repetitive, but it never gets stale or boring. I have to admit the pronounced cello feels in the second part of the third verse might be my favourite part of the whole song. It’s such a subtle touch and they didn’t need to do it. But they did, and those things get me.
Eva Swanson doesn’t simply speak about the world to come but she also acknowledges that we have a life to live here and now. With simple lines like this:
Till then I’ll live my life unto Your name
And testify that I am not the same
She brings the narrative of the song full circle balancing the life we live today with the hope that we have in Christ for eternity.
I can’t say enough good things about this tune and there’s a part of me that feels like she may disappear again for a bit [Editor’s note: She said she won’t, but you can’t blame me for having these trust issues, can you?]. If you ask me, I think the world is about ready for an Eva Swanson EP or album. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
All Links
Did you know I recently posted my 30th album/EP review in this newsletter? It’s kind of wild that we’ve published that much. You can look at them here.
Also if you’re open to alternative ways to support my work, consider Buying Me A Coffee.
I’m always ready to hear what you have to say, tell me your thoughts.
Feel free to take things a step further here:
Another a few more coming this year... continuing to drop the load :) Thanks for this feature, and appreciate your kind words!