Shine by ESANCY is a creative and heartfelt plea for people not to give up on themselves or others in life. Utilising emotive yet candid vocals and a melody that can shift and change from moment to moment, this track excels in its ability to convey its narrative. The video is also a stunning attribute, connecting to this theme of getting life back on track. The song opens with a quiet, piano-ballad-like style. This is an excellent choice, allowing the vocals to set the tone early and the piano to establish the melody.

This languid, pure opening, reflects, to me, the slow, growing desire in a lot of people to change their lives. It also doesn’t overwhelm the listener, allowing them to grow with the track. As the song develops, these high-register synths come into the mix, providing tonal contrast to the more traditional aspects of the vocal and piano. This addition injects the piece with energy and elevates the vocals with its contrast. The ethereal harmonies also come in around this section, building up the richness of the track overall and also providing a different angle to the melodic structure, exploring the far reaches of the track’s tapestry with its bright, shiny timbre. They also connect to this theme of rebuilding your life. These harmonies remind you that you’re not the only person going through this, there is a momentum built up through that sentiment that makes you want to sing along. The video shows someone in different phases of life not acknowledging their problems. This is addressed through the metaphor of a messy room. Throughout the song, as they find the motivation to get back on track, they clean up their bed and organise their clothes. This is symbolic of the process of rebuilding your life but is also a very literal first step that lots of people can do when trying to improve themselves. Once your room is clean, all the other problems may feel just a bit easier to tackle. I’m impressed by the sonic and narrative cohesion in this project, the ebb and flow of energy and emotional resonance is something that’s worth checking out!