Track Review: Devil In The Mirror // Karen Harding
From her debut single ‘I Didn’t Realise’ in May 2021 to ‘It’s Okay’ in December 2022, we have followed the career of singer-songwriter Karen Harding faithfully. With her emotional melodies and tender, poetic lyricism, Karen has a way of transcending the boundaries of modern-day folk and taking you along for the ride. Featured in Send Me Your Ears, Sinusoidal Music, The Other Side Reviews, and various playlists, the Australian artist is making waves on the blogosphere. More accolades include winning the 2021 Bendigo Bank-sponsored Radio Eastern Songwriter Talent Show, being nominated for ‘Best International Artist’ on Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards in 2022, and a nomination as a ‘Top 10 Winner’ at the World Songwriting Awards. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘Devil In The Mirror’.
When we are younger, we are constantly bogged down with those “life achievements” and “milestones” to be reached. By the age of 40, you should have a home, cars, children, a healthy lifestyle, an acceptable social circle, and be settled in a way; however, that is not always the case. In an imperfect world, you are expected to meet a perfect stereotypical image but this is constantly changing as the world changes. If you don’t meet the expectations, well…you’re not making it, are you? Karen Harding touches on this theme of stereotypical expectations with ‘Devil In The Mirror’.
“Like so many people, I have spent so much of my life being afraid to put myself in front of a camera or for people to see the whole me. My ‘devil’ would tell me stories that I didn’t measure up or that I didn’t look how I was supposed to look…people everywhere are striving for impossible, unreachable versions of themselves. I want them to know that they ARE good enough just by being themselves…” – Karen Harding on ‘Devil In The Mirror’.
Self-written, recorded and produced, with mixing and mastering by Edwin Kraus, Karen Harding uses a sonic package to look at how people feel when “they don’t see themselves as measuring up.” Following her emotional folk ballad, ‘It’s Okay’, ‘Devil In The Mirror’ sees an evolution in Karen’s sound. Moving from old-school and indie folk songs, we see the pop side of this talented artist.
Driving drumbeats belie a commercial pop “bounciness” with a toe-tapping vibe. Interestingly enough, while the ethereal ambience places Karen among the likes of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift melody-wise, Karen’s vocals inject a tenderness often missing in modern-day commercial pop songs. Think Carole King with a Taylor Swift beat and you have an idea of ‘Devil in The Mirror’.
Sincere, sentimental and introspective, ‘Devil In The Mirror’ represents every emotional aspect of Karen Harding. Am I a fan of the new pop vibe? Time will tell.
This artist was found on Musosoup #sustainablecurator