Recalling Juliana Hatfield, Angie Hart (Frente!), and Kay Hanely (Letters to Cleo), the voice of Airinna Namara is a wonderful thing. The Malaysian singer's suple indie-pop is heavy on melody, full of hooks, and fairly catchy too.
The singer's got a lot of stuff online, but I'd recommend starting with her discography on Bandcamp. Highlights here include the plaintive and radio-ready "Stuck in Stockholm", the gently urgent "Hate That I Still Think About You", and the recent ballad "e-cigarette", a real winner. Namara's voice is capable of expressing vulnerability and passion seemingly at once, and it's the thing that anchors this material. A number like "Don't Let Me Go While I'm Here" may be bedsit pop, but it's so fully-formed, so precise in its construction, that you can imagine it being a hit anywhere. And while earlier Smiths-inspired single "Last Letter" is another gem, it's 2021's "Momentary Daydream" that really won me over. This one is an elegantly-composed big ballad, and it's darn impressive.
If there's any justice in this world, Airinna Namara will soon be as popular as beabadoobee. For now, dive in to what's up on Bandcamp, and keep an eye out for future releases from this up-and-coming singer-songwriter!
More details on Airinna Namara via the official website.
[Photo: Airinna Namara]