The Small Kingdoms Molds Lusch Cerebral Chamber Pop On ‘Who I Am’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

The Small Kingdoms is, by all appearances, one person: Darren Guyaz. However, listening to the debut album of Who I Am, which labels itself “chamber pop,” one could be forgiven for thinking there were many more people behind the sound. Ripe with lush harmonies, strings, and a myriad of instruments, the album soars over a range of emotional terrain. It’s an album that hooks upon first listen, calling one back to dig deeper into its sonic landscape. 

As in the eponymous title track, piano forms the basis of many songs, often pulsing with an incessant, hooky force. This pulsing foundation creates a rich basis upon which to weave a tapestry of strings and, ultimately, voices. Guyaz’s vocals are earnest, often complemented by a beautiful female voice singing in sometimes anguished, nearly always intensely rich harmony. Indeed, the harmony and the voice providing it seem integral to The Small Kingdoms’ sound – a key balance to Guyaz’s folk-tinged, passionate sound. 

This album begs to be listened to at increased volume, immersing oneself in the emotions woven throughout. Guyaz claims a solid list of influences (Agnes Obel, Tori Amos, James Blake, Emmit Fenn, Syml, Glen Hansard, Ólafur Arnalds, Ben Howard), and their fingerprints are clear. In particular, one hears echoes of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, as exemplified in “Falling Slowly.” This is August company, and it will be fun to see where Guyaz takes the collaboration clearly powering The Small Kingdom