Amiria Grenell has just launched her latest album, The Winter Light. She’s nailed this folk-pop sound of hers, as we find with lead single The Ghost In You.

Coming in with a light, soft ballady vibe a la Mary Hopkins (Welsh legend, yay!), Amiria swiftly moves up in energy levels with some great, thick bottom end and an elevated acoustic strum anchoring the composition. This song spans folk, pop, indie, dream-pop, and half a dozen more genres, and to me is the best release of hers I’ve reviewed to date. As ever, that’s subjective, and it’s because I really do like my folkie stuff to have that more up-tempo vibe to it. Nothing wrong at all with the other releases, I must add. It’s just my own preference – so this one has really captured me most of her releases to date.

As Amiria takes the song up with the fuller band sound, I get a Sally Oldfield aura. Really great vocals, strong yet emotive. This is enhanced by an absolute ear worm of a melody, with a chorus that’s as catchy as a catchy thing that catches your ear. Really great commercially viable melody, and not losing the rootsy, folkie base to it. Well done.

There’s one of Amiria‘s signature videos wherein she’s interacting warmly with people and doing a few bits and bobs. She’s unquestionably had fun with this vid with some choreographed dancing, live modelling for art classes, Hula Hoop time, and a lot of fun with paper aeroplanes being had. It’s been put together by Robyn Jordaan and team, and the extra budget from NZ On Air has been put to good use. It captures the essence, the soul, of this song, I felt. Really nice. Pop on the You Tubes. It’s there.

For a term of reference comparison, it’s a teensy bit reminiscent to me of Anika Moa’s Dreams In My Head. Just that ethereal feel to the melody, and an earthy energy underlying it all. Amiria‘s taking the album on tour, so check out the Flash-Trax news page for info on that. Make sure you go see her. The album – and consequently this single – are on the Spotty Fly already too. If you like dream-pop if you like folk, this really is the sound for you. If you like the genre/s I’ve stated here, this song very much suits the surroundings of a live show.

I can definitely see this on the telly. So to speak. The vid is the best she’s delivered, and she’s picked the right song to promote the album launch. Very well thought out Amiria Grenell. Enjoy the tour!