Niamh (pronounced Nieve) is a musical painter. According to their label, the Connecticut musician sets out to create music that “[blurs] the lines between myth and reality” and their success is immediately apparent. Their self-titled album Niamh, was released to kick off 2021.

“Elfsong,” appropriately, has a certain mystical quality to it. Niamh fuses simple electronic sounds with lush arrangement to create something that feels as if you’re walking around in the movie Avatar. “Kitchen Beat” carries this vibe forward. It feels like a surreal walk through the forest with fairies flitting about.

“Fey,” the album’s lead single, explores the complexity of romantic relationships. The line, “do you want to fuck or fight?” feels all too relevant to the way young people date. It captures the frustration and loneliness of life as a young person, and ultimately, the comfort of being with your person, even if you’re in the middle of a disagreement. “The Stride,” suggests life on a stage, “I live in the foreground, it’s all eyes on me” moans Niamh. Is it real? Is one of the imagined stages we find ourselves on as we strut down the sidewalk? I’m not sure, but I do know the lyrics make me think, and I love that.

“1812” feels like the beginning of Niamh’s third movement. It doesn’t feel as dark as the previous two tracks but lacks the fantastic of the openers. “1812” is about overcoming, and the growth and development that happens in the background of our lives. The chorus, “I think that it’s strange that I’ve come this far,” speaks to those quiet moments of self-reflection when you realize you might actually be on the path to self-actualization, in spite of all the ways you feel like you’re coming up short. Add the 80s dreamscape the music sets up, and you have yourself a nice little uplifting number.

“Wash Out” features bolder production with more experimentation that feels like it would be home in the late 90s. Niamh has undeniable talent and range as an artist, presenting wonderfully thoughtful lyrics with their well-built melodies. There is so much to appreciate. “Flood” is gentle and subtle, an ode to a lover. That, along with the next song, “Grace,” have a cold, haunting quality to them that somehow warms the soul. Niamh has a way of creating voids that they then fill with the intimacy of the human spirit. Taking two competing ideas and making them work together truly is art, and they are putting themselves and all their talents on full display. While carrying on with more grandeur, the album’s final track, “Niamh,” is a fitting cap to the projects final section. There is a sense of love, splendor, and hopefulness, which is ultimately what Niamh gives us. In this exploration of the human condition, it brings us joy, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a pretty cool way to start off 2021.

Happy New Year everybody.