Crafting a poetic, cinematic auditory experience is no small feat, and Church of Elder managed to accomplish that with their latest single, “Into the Waters”. I guarantee this will take you on a journey like it did for me. Here’s why it works so well.
“Into The Waters” is a vulnerable song with a huge sound that brings to the surface the internal turmoil of missing someone. It’s sentimental in a genuine way. It’s so intimate yet massive in scale, so much so that I can imagine an entire stadium worth of people screaming their hearts out with the lyrics. The harmony layers are rich and beautiful, and the tone has the perfect amount of angst that the song’s narrative needs. The vocals convey the yearning and longing in an incredibly heartfelt way.
It starts with the synth playing a syncopated pattern and immediately captures your attention, and then the rest of the ensemble joins in, and an absolutely gorgeous piano sound plays the melodic motif of the song. The verses scale back the dynamics to contrast with the huge chorus, as all the guitar layers support the vocals by following the same melody. An absolute masterclass in songwriting by Church of Elder, in my opinion, just one perfect piece of the puzzle after another to effectively claw at your heartstrings. And the impeccable production quality is just the cherry on top.
Church of Elder’s “Into The Waters” is a beautifully crafted piece of art. It’s more than a song, it’s a whole experience. And one you should definitely go through yourself.
