Catherine Elms “Fire Song”

Catherine Elms has a lot of potential as a musician. The UK based singer-songwriter channels raw and epic power into her music, from her debut release “Frustration” to the latest “Fire Song.” “Fire Song” is an epic ode, softly evoked by a glistening piano, burning down walls and limitations, setting free a new life. The fire symbolism travels from her fierce voice to drastic strings. The dramatic destruction and take-down is captured by a grand emotive built-up, but then there’s poignance and grace in her music, bathed in ancient beauty and slight Celtic influences.

One of the strength of Catherine Elms’ music is in her poised and poetic lyricisms. They embrace a fictional storytelling while enhancing the emotional expression and meaning that are trying to come through. That’s something really special about Elms’ work. They always have that fantasy/drama setting that takes you to another time and another realm.

It’s really fascinating to see artist channels this aspect in their work when expressing something deeply personal and vulnerable to the world. But by doing that, there’s the intrigue and the mystery, which are always really particular in Elms’ music. They say "set your life ablaze", never knowing. That a fire once started will bring everything down. And will rage through the night, like a curse, like a blessing. And no one can build a city out of ash. It really engages listeners with their own imaginations.

The melodies and overall aesthetic embraces that creative vision as well. “Fire Song” is fascinatingly captivating. The melody itself carries a storytelling in them, like those old folkloric songs that evoke a thousand tales beyond the lyrics. That’s how powerful the melodies of “Fire Song” is. On the performance level, Catherine Elms’ voice is refreshing and honest. She presents herself in a natural setting. There’s no heavy production on her voice, and in an epic, heavy song like “Fire Song,” that is both bold and surprising.