by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Sarah Smith is a very gifted songwriter who releases music under the name of Hoonah. Based out of Western Mass, it’s been a long time since the last album, but Smith has been steadily working. It takes times to craft something as personal as Marram Grass, Hoonah’s new album which will be self released on January 8th. While the writing and recording of the record was primarily completed back in 2018 with the help of engineer Pete Weiss, Smith proceeded to sculpt and shape the album over the past few years, with the isolation of this year lending a hand in it’s eventual completion.Together with engineer Grant Wicks, the project was completed and we’re excited to share the album’s title track and first single.
“Marram Grass” (a type of dense and spiky beachgrass that populates the coasts) is a gentle folk song, like a soft breeze or running your fingers through the titular grass. Reminiscent to artists like Lisa/Liza, Adrianne Lenker, and Caitlin Pasko, there’s as much beauty in the open spaces of the composition as there is in the fragile melody and the heartbreaking introspective lyrics. Hoonah’s voice is quiet but speaks volumes, backed with just strings and a sweeping sort of ambiance, each word is delivered with a deep impact in the face of uncertainty. The song’s video was directed/animated by WIshbone Zoë, capturing the themes of isolation and nature’s welcome reflections.