Rainlights - how does it feel?

We know you come to IMC for your regular dose of thrills. But today, it is good for you to know what this song could trigger in you if you have just lost a loved one. It hasn't happened to me recently, but when I finished listening to this song for the first time, I had tears in my eyes.

Yes, "how does it feel?", the new single from Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and producer Rachel, aka Rainlight, is very... very... very moving.

About the song, Rachel explains: "I wrote this song about losing my father unexpectedly last year. Music is where I find solace during dark times. I think this piece came from a place of wanting to paint a picture of the contrast between love and I only hope to honor him from here on out with this track, and with any music I make in his memory in the future".

And it's very easy to slip into her skin, from the first sentence, and feel like you're part of the story. Living it with her by your side. As if you suddenly become her imaginary brother or sister, a bit like a ghost giving a nice pat on her shoulder to say "I'm here for you".

Very descriptive and immersive, Rachel's writing inevitably triggers an emotional wave that pierces you. A bit like a diary page, the song looks back on this particular day, these last moments that we would never have dared to call "last".

As I said in the introduction, I haven't lost anyone recently and I'll even be more direct: I've never lost anyone who is very close. And my father is still there, even though he lives on the other side of the country. And while listening to the song, I wondered how I would react if such a strange day happened to me. How do you manage to control your emotions? How do you overcome something like this?

Rainlight's vocal performance is absolutely divine in this very intimate and deeply personal song. You will say that I dwell a bit too much on details, but his "oooh" from 1:21 to 1:23 is absolutely incredible. In just two seconds, we perceive through this trembling and upset voice all the emotions of such an unexpected event.

There are a lot of different instruments in this song, but the production was kept intimate, and light, as if to respect this departed loved one. There is a lot of emotion, humility, and respect in this little masterpiece of just over three minutes.

This song takes me back to 18 months ago when Ryan Nealon unveiled the music video for "Not Coming Home", dedicated to his mother who passed away when he was 5. It was the first time that I was able to project myself into this incredible emotional spiral that is mourning.

Rachel offers us in "how does it feel" the light necessary to move forward, and makes us discover with humility and talent this world of mourning that some of us have not yet explored.

Reach out to Rainlights