Truth, illusion, and ‘melancholic tones’: Amarälle’s ‘Within Reach’

The music of Gothenburg, Sweden’s Amarälle uniquely combines ambient atmospherics with more than a touch of philosophical depth.
She began recording music in 2019, citing Philip Glass, especially his Koyannisquatsi, as an influence. “I saw him live at the Gothenburg Film Festival,” she explains. “I’ve always had a weakness for melancholic tones. I love cinematic music.”
This shows on each of her songs. Somewhat amazingly, she’s released eleven singles and EPs since 2020, and they all display her unique talent as a vocalist and creator of atmospherics.
Highlights include “Twine,” a 2020 single about self-love that features an array of fascinating synths, and her most recent EP, Embracing. The title track contains perhaps her most evocative vocal performance. She adds more percussion to the songs than her previous work, and it makes them fuller and adds an extra layer.
Amarälle’s latest single, “Within Reach,” is her most compelling to date. It might be her darkest song, calling to mind her penchant for ‘melancholic tones.’ A foreboding synth carries the track, with some other keys giving a balance to the atmospherics. The percussion is sparse and well-placed.
There’s also a deeper dimension to “Within Reach.” “We have truth and illusion,” she says. “The truth is distorted for most of us until we awaken our souls. When we do, we realize who we are and the power we hold. Anything we desire is within reach.”
The mysterious atmospherics of “Within Reach” evokes those thoughts.
Erik Ritland
Erik Ritland is a songwriter and journalist from Nashville, Tennessee. He's released 13 records and EPs, most recently 2021's innovative movie album Old Dog Almost Gone. His journalism has been featured on Something Else! Reviews, Music in Minnesota, and more, and his articles have been shared by members of bands as diverse as KISS, the Monkees, Son Volt, and Low Cut Connie.