I Need to Start a Garden, the debut album from Filipino-American songstress Haley Heynderickx, is one to behold.
Under an acoustic facade of beautifully composed folk, Heynderickx combines introspective lyrics interspersed with splashes of wry humor to reflect upon moments of her past and present. Heynderickx has a voice that aches with soulful passion akin to Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief) and, when pertinent, shudders with a power and flexibility reminiscent of Mitski and Florence Welch.
Like the titular garden she speaks of, the short 8-song LP is carefully pruned and structured, allowing each track to bear its own distinctive fruit. There’s a diverse range of emotions to experience from this record – from numb melancholy to the warm promise of hope. All of them firmly cement Haley Heynderickx’s aptitude as a brilliant songwriter and artist.
Score: 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷/5
