Stepping away from the endless scroll of streaming, through blood, like kin finds its deliverance in the hands of people
Rumination often leads to a profound sense of self. Rather than seeking external forces to feed what we believe to be our individuality, our truest expression involves peeling back layers to reveal what has always been; it just takes a view through the lens of introspection.
Eora vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ella Haber gracefully exudes such vulnerability through her dazzling debut album through blood, like kin. A five year commitment. The process of crafting this album identifies its own growth period, where a multitude of aspects relating to one’s self are explored throughout, materialising as a poignantly human body of work.
Implementing her deep reverence to art in all its forms, Ella boldly protests the game of the music industry, where her vulnerable plea fights for creativity in leading single ‘don’t let it die’.
Reminiscent of romantic unions that have since decayed, the poetic lyricism of Ella’s songwriting gently shapes confronting moments into beautiful epiphanies. In doing so, she acknowledges endings where their expiration has intuitively been felt in ‘the day’ and ‘back of my eyes’. Situations we eventually wander to albeit begrudgingly, the exchange slowly but surely allows for self-respect and love, with each isolated moment accruing to the masterclass of self-awareness.
Following the endearing love letter to her childhood piano on ‘kawai’, we lean into the flip of the record with a short piece on the ivory-laden instrument itself through the dulcet tones of ‘calvert street’. Seemingly symbolising a sense of place and connection, this small corner of Sydney coats the heart of our artist, as the intimacy and soft nature of this composition speaks of a high regard towards its devotion.
Steeping into ‘ecstasy’ imbues whimsical territory, as the protagonist to this tale offers a different angle to storytelling. Ambiguous in its lyricism as to whether we are following the character of another or of ourselves, a sense of thrill is offered in the dance of safety and exploration.
Where these songs are threads to the heart space of Ella Haber, the closing piece ‘interstice’ is really what weaves them all together. Bestowing a sense of contentment with her internal world, the quest for love as a home within the body is accessible; sonically served through the indicative ascension of choral vocals harmonising with tonal keys and the devout stretch of strings arranged by Novak Manojlovic.
The individual sentiments and introspective findings on through blood, like kin are underpinned by the uncovering of Ella Haber’s true sense of self; passionately and poetically harped through her impeccable vocal range, and sonically sewn together via the celestial arrangements of elongated strings, a rhythmic backbone, and the weight of keys that hold the stories of Haber from all pockets of her life.
Ella Haber’s through blood, like kin has been released through Planet Trip Records; with its deliverance stepping away from streaming platforms to exemplify community and connection in holding a profound reverence to art.
Words by Hannah Galvin