A haunting and ominous piece of dreamy pop music that’s infused with folk sensibilities, Nicky Lawton’s ‘Symbiosis’ opts for a sombre and maudlin tone at times but it’s really carried by an underlying feeling of upliftment and empowerment. It grows on you, slowly and subtly building the tension with each passing moment of every track. There’s a dark atmosphere that Lawton shrouds the listener in, completely covering them and blinding and shutting off all other aural sensations. You feel transfixed, entirely focused, and wholly dedicated to a singular cause and that is the central thesis of Symbiosis.
Lyrically, the record explores themes of struggling with poor physical and mental health, with the author having suffered with schizophrenia and chronic pain. But in contrast to these darker themes, the sound and voice of Lawton is angelic, a nigh spiritual experience that unravels beautiful imagery and nature all around you. The usage of the flute and harp in particular add immense depth to the sound of the record, elevating it into something magnificent and grandiose, a kind of operatic opulence that allows you to transcend into something higher.
Overall, Symbiosis to me feels like a record that places upliftment and growth front and centre. It explores and deals with deep pain, anguish, anxiety and the despair of life’s troubles and responsibilities but not with a pessimism or maudlin touch. Rather, Lawton’s vocal performance and the innately inspiring arrangements have you absolutely enraptured, uplifted, and transported into something larger than yourself. It’s sombre, but not hopeless. Soothing, serenading, and swooning, Symbiosis is all about giving you the power to push through hardship and adversity while simultaneously never not acknowledging or empathizing with where that leaves you.