Well now. What to say about this one. Otautahi’s Shana Graham is the lady behind Valere, with a catalogue of sweet R & B tracks to her name already. This time, when I first get to review her work, she’s given me a track about something – or some people, rather – very special to all of us.

This song is about being a Mum.

Shana says that the song’s sweet melody came to her while she was soothing baby Lily one night, swaying her along to a marching beat in her mind. The lyrics came as a catharsis to the worry every Mum feels when she has a moment – and those are very rare – to think about the job of raising the precious, helpless little thing she’s just brought out into the world. A worry as natural as childbirth itself, and as old as Motherhood itself. Being Mum to a daughter is a poignant thing to Shana, and the promo vid that you can see on the You Tubes is testament to that. Filled with her Mum friends and their daughters, it’s an easy to watch homage to one of the most formidable forces of nature you’ll ever find – Mothers. Lionesses every one of them, they have my utmost respect.

(I look at my two young kids Mum, my wonderful missus, and every day I am in awe of her. My two adult sons from my previous marriage, their Mum was and is also in the same league as a Mother. I’m a Dad to four sons, so bodily functions have always been a principal source of humour – for which I have taken my responsibility as a Dad seriously and led the charge with gusto – and their Mums would still stop an Elephant for them despite the testosterone OD.)

I digress.

A gentle R & B number with ethereal, soaring keys, some sweet guitar work and a suitable marching beat on the drums, provide a nice, unchallenging backing to Shana‘s crystal soprano. A very good vocal performance, I must say. A lot of power, tempered within a catchy, light R & B melody. As mentioned, the song is about the worries a new Mum to a daughter experiences. Will I be a good mother? Will I be a good teacher? The warmth of the vid helps to answer that for any Mums still tossing and turning those worries through their minds – and that is you’re in the most respected, exclusive club in the world. The oldest too. The support of your fellow Mums provides an empathy, a sense of comprehension of what and when a shoulder or a hand is needed, and a level of connection that us Dads only experience when we stand in silence around the barbie at a get together of the antenatal group following everyone’s birthing experiences. Not really. I’m being flippant. That level of a bond is for the Mums, and rightly so.

I’d expect this to get some air on Juice TV for the vid, and the audio will find its way onto ZM and More FM, I hope. It’s a strong, deep message wrapped up in a sweet and gentle package. Pretty much just like your Mum, right?

It’s out today, on the Spotty Fly so give it a listen and then go give your Mum a call, you thoughtless person!