RAE DU SOLEIL
“I Love You Close”
Single review by Mike O’Cull, independent music journalist. www.mikeocull.com
Rae du Soleil, a.k.a. Raelyn Kaplan, is an intensely individual vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist from San Francisco, California. Her 2019 single “I Love You Close” is a delicious slice of indie pop that melds her emotive singing, jazz guitar chords, and lyrical depth into a track that doesn’t need to shout to stand out. Soleil is still in college but is in possession of writing and playing chops well beyond her years. She performs regularly on the West Coast, sings in French and English, and has appeared at several important music festivals. She’s also writing a book of interactive poetry.
“I Love You Close” is an intimate track with an up-close vibe made of only acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. It’s extremely live-sounding and makes you feel like you’re in the same room with Soleil and the other musicians. It’s a song of passion, people, distance, and desire that rhythmically ebbs and flows like real human interaction. The chorus hook is simple and strong but Soleil’s words and music take a deep and literate dive into the affairs of the heart. The song is a skillfully-executed piece of indie art as well as a kinetic and engaging pop song that gets stuck in the head all too easily. Big things look to be in store for Rae du Soleil if she keeps turning out songs like this. Highly recommended.
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5yoJr8H6v1IOMfo62Uhfhq
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: