The new album from Vancouver-based singer/songwriter Norine Braun, Journey Toward Wholeness consumes in its dynamic sound and personal lyricism, driven by Braun’s experiences as an adoptee. A diverse tonal assortment shows, from the bluesy rock suaveness of “Quicksand” to the soulful grooves within “Quest Before Me” and the southern-touched folk nostalgia on “Breathe In Deep.” While Braun’s previous album Song For Trees reflected her dedication to climate change, Journey Toward Wholeness digs into a more personal outlook, emphasizing Braun’s exploration of her Red River Metis heritage and resulting newfound sense of self and belonging.
“Adoption” captures this theme aptly in the opening lines, asking “whose eyes do I have?” in reference to a drive for self-discovery. “I searched for who and what I am, where my roots in history land. These are questions that I find, who and what was left behind?” Braun sings, moving beautifully alongside suave guitar lines and balmy organs. The preceding “Quest Before Me” references the hero’s journey, gorgeously highlighting the power of discovering our true selves.
The more folk-set introspection of “Ascending Lullaby” serves as a dedication to Braun’s late mother, celebrating the “fly higher now, you’re ascending,” hopefulness when one passes on, while also highlighting her mother’s perseverance and undying love. Journey Toward Wholeness is a moving, audible expression of self-discovery and inner-confidence, set alongside a consistently commanding array of songwriting and melodic vocals. Journey Toward Wholeness represents the 14th album for the prolific artist.
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“Bring It On” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
