SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FERNA – UNDERSTUDY

ferna
understudy
Independent

It is ok to be humble as a musician, particularly if you are just coming up with your debut album. But Belfast, Northern Ireland singer songwriter Hannah McPhillimy, aka ferna, as her debut album understudy shows, doesn’t really have to be humble.

She comes up with this album as she won Northern Island Music Prize Single Of The Year for 2022, and the 10 songs here show that that Single Of The Year is not just a one-off shooting star.

It took McPhillimy time to come up with this album, but that time has obviously worked to her favor, as all the songs here are fully thought-out and developed, including all the elements something a modern folk pop songs should include, like the delicate modern pop touches of “New City.”

Yet, the key to ferna’s music is that it just defies strict categorization, as she exhibits an elegant melodic touch and some excellent arrangements throughout.

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