SONG PREMIERE: Georigan Folk Artist Nainnoh Presents Surreal Psych Folk on “Colors”

Psych of all sorts has been overly represented in Australia of late but there are certainly other segments that are worthy of an adventurous listen. Psych-folk is more lyrically venturesome, where images and stories bloom alongside its instrumental counterparts. Nainnoh of the Eastern European nation of Georigia follows suit in this realm of artists that include Chelsea Wolfe and Russian Circles. But there is more to the story for Nainnoh who always dreamed of freedom as a child..

“I was a free spirit as a child, a rebel,” she explains. “Looking back now, I realize that I owe a lot of the innocence and sincerity in my musical DNA to Georgia, but when I was young, the country had very strict traditions, and I felt like a bird in a cage.”

Now, with the release of her gorgeous and wildly creative self-titled debut, Nainnoh is finally able to spread her wings. Recorded in her adopted hometown of New York City, the collection showcases Nainnoh’s voracious musical appetite, mixing dreamy pop and droning rock with Georigan folk and experimental psychedelia to create a mesmerizing, cross-cultural meditation on mortality and humanity. The songs here are rich and deeply layered, drawing on Nainnoh’s love of poetry and philosophy to explore the ties that bind us—both to each other and the natural world around us—as well as the artificial walls that all too often keep us apart. The album’s arrangements are lush and cinematic to match, hinting at everything from Sigur Ros to the Velvet Underground with bold, adventurous production that blends organic and electronic elements into a captivating swirl. Seven years in the making, the record marks the culmination of a lifelong journey and the start of a brand new chapter for Nainnoh, who headed into the studio not only for herself, but for anyone who’s ever been counted out because of who they are or where they come from.

“I remember the first time I was ever discriminated against as an immigrant,” says Nainnoh. “I was told I’d never make it in America because of my accent, because I was different. I felt like my spirit died in that moment, but it ultimately led me to this awakening where I realized that I needed to do something to change people’s perceptions. I needed to make an album that could serve as an example for all the other girls who come here from other countries, for all my Hispanic and African American friends who were born here but still feel like outsiders. I wanted to show what we’re capable of.”

That insistence on love and acceptance in the face of pain and suffering is a key element of the album, which draws much of its spiritual center and moral compass from Nainnoh’s experience as an immigrant. The spellbinding “Velvet Mode” muses on everyday battles against racism, sexism, and discrimination, while the stirring “Run,” which features Sully playing a traditional, recorder-like Georgian instrument know as the Salamuri, seeks escape from toxicity, and the fiery “Break Apart” searches for peace and healing in ourselves and each other.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the mysticism of the Georgian language,” says Nainnoh, “and the Georgian word for ‘god’ actually originated from the phrase ‘deep one.’ I want people listening to these songs to realize the depth of their powers to love and heal and unite, to realize that we could all be gods in our own ways. I want my music to be that kind of awakening.”

Glide is proud to premiere the cryptically wonderful song and video for “Colors” from Nainnoh, where the ethereal meets the psychedelic. Nainnoh creates portraits with her songs where psych-folk touches themes of art rock with a punctuating sound and presentation. Check out Nainnoh’s artistry below…

 

Photo by Irma Mtchedlishvili

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