There is one message that we all need to hear right now and it is this: things will get better. New single 'Don't Let Go' by Tolü Makay gives music and meaning to this message, wrapping us up in soulful sounds and taking us on a journey from fear into hope.
Tolü Makay is a singer-songwriter based in Tullamore. She uses her music to explore herself and the world around her, and has been successful in becoming a strong voice for female black artists in Ireland.
'Don't Let Go' is the leading track from Tolü Makay's debut album 'BEING' which is set for release this October. The track comes to us in a clean flow of delicate guitar and dreamy vocals, progressing later to include elements of gospel and neo-soul. The lyrics sing like a mantra, reminding us again and again that we've "got it all." This theme of positivity is typical of Makay's music to date, and it's the very thing that elevates our listening experience beyond the music itself. As 'Don't Let Go' fades away with the gentle lilting of Makay's vocals, our feelings of fear and inadequacy fade away with it. And this - the moving of the listener to a different frame of mind - is what all great music aims to achieve.
Catch Tolü Makay's live performance on 'The X Collective: A Modern Ireland in Music' in collaboration with the Irish Arts Centre NY, here.
Written by Aoife Chaney