Chicago-based artist Nikki Minerva compels with a haunting folk introspection on “oh, oh” — enamoring with its dreamy vocal ascents and textured guitar undercurrents. Twangy guitars are delectably expressive in the final couple minutes, as Minerva’s captivating vocal presence finds a brief reprieve. Earlier recollections of a dream — where “your hair had turned all grey,” — move within clacking percussion and steady acoustic strums, building with artful momentum into the more soft-rock final section. “oh, oh” is a lovely piece of songwriting from Nikki Minerva.
Minerva elaborates on the writing process:
“i wrote “oh, oh” in true dirtbag musician fashion: after binge-listening to elliott smith’s “between the bars” and passing out drunk. i heard the melody in a dream, and the rest is history. “oh, oh” grapples with finding closure within generational traumas, and the grieving that inevitably comes with the decision to forgive. this song was healing for me to write, and i hope those who can relate find connection and community in it as well.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
