Singer-Songwriter Lenoy Barkai releases her stunning debut album ‘Paper Crown’. Following support across music press, the solo artist see’s the culmination of her singles to date in this blissful full length project.
Displaying an array of atmospheric, emotive soundscapes and musically mature songwriting, the album is full of beautiful moments. Blending elements of pop, indie, rock and alt-folk. The 11-track album showcases Lenoy Barkai’s ability to capture emotions and moods throughout giving listeners a wide variety of sonic depth ranging from the dark hypnotic track ‘Do I Really Wanna Know?’ to the ethereal piano ballad of the album closer ‘Paper Crown’.
The album is at its brightest on ‘Paper Crowns’ lead single ‘Just Enough Of You’. Built around layers of strummed acoustics, swelling chorus tinted guitar, subtle synth pads and swaying bass and drums, the track possesses a woozy sonic warmth under Lenoy Barkai’s ever silky, angelic and effortlessly mesmerising lead vocal. Progressing through its striking and catchy chorus, the track is surrounded by an ethereal haze, creating a truly transportive, blissful-yet-melancholic musical experience.
Speaking about the album as a whole, Lenoy Barkai explains: “Paper Crown ended up being an album that largely reflects on different periods in my 20s. And when I thought about the common thread that ran through these songs, I found myself returning to different notions of power, gained and lost. I also like the image of a paper crown because it represents the fine line between the joker and the king – which reminds me to never take myself too seriously!”
A singer, songwriter and instrumentalist by night, Lenoy Barkai is a cyber security consultant by day, as well as a new mom. Having studied classical singing at the South African College of Music in Cape Town, graduating in 2009, she has since been making music and performing after hours while building a wholly unexpected career for herself in the security industry. ‘Paper Crown’ is her first full solo project, capitalising upon the growing support that she has built over the past years.
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