To dance while letting go of love: Shut The Door by LEHI
Written by: Aura R.
LEHI (pronounced Lee-Hi), is an artist from Hartlepool, Northeast England, who is completely DIY as he writes, plays, records, and produces his own music. Playing since a young age he embarked on a solo project only last year amassing an incredible success with his debut single.
LEHI’s second single ‘Shut The Door’, set for release on January 26th, is a great example of this artist's ability to create a whole narrative through music and brings out his production talents.
It starts with a pretty arpeggio-like effect that plays on loop in the background during most of the song, adding an acoustic guitar and a compelling beat right at the beginning, completely pulling you in. The mix has an 80s or early 90s pop element to it with heavy use of the synthesizer, though in a softer and modern way, plus distortions and effects that could be a nod to EDM.
At around 2:33 there’s an interesting moment in the song, where there’s only music with no beat or guitar creating a pause in the steady rhythm, giving the song a bridge made of music reminiscent of The Postal Service’s ‘Such Great Heights’.
The vocals are soft and intimate, working with the lyrics to create this dream-like effect aided by the airy guitars that stand as an opposing element to the beat. It feels almost like you’re hearing a rumination going on inside the singer’s head as the sound envelops you. Very much reminiscent of LEHI’s influences such as The 1975, Valley, MUNA and The Blue Nile.
The song talks about a love lost and the subsequent regret, filled with longing and sadness in the way great love songs know how: to give a glimmer of hope and heartbreak in the same swooping verse ‘I’m healing/But I can’t forget the feeling’.
Definitely a song to dance while thinking about that one that got away. As the saying goes, it’s better to have lost and love…