Canadian singer-songwriter Laura Gagné released a new album, Exode (exodus/departure). The themes are love and contemplation. Laura Gagné wrote and composed her songs, along with other songwriters.
The music is Pop. The songs are dynamic, each one with a catchy beat. It parallels music by Lorie (her early works), Arianne Moffatt, Andreanne A. Malette and Marie-Mai.
The piece La traversée (The Crossing) is a lovely introduction to Laura Gagné’s album. It parallels The Little Mermaid (when Ariel sings for Ursula) before she loses her voice. It also reminds me of La Zarra’s single Tu T’en Iras (you’ll go away) but with a slower tempo.
The album has beautiful ballads. The song Perdue dans la Foule has an upbeat and soothing sound that parallels Ed Sheeran’s single Dusty. The music starts calmly, then boldly picks up in tempo. Laura Gagné and Ghislain Brind’Amour beautifully composed this piece, representing the emotional shift. Flamme jumelle (Twin Flame) reminds me of my meditation music from Dan Gibson’s Solitude collection. It also has an Arianne Moffatt vibe. Laura Gagné did an incredible job with the tune’s composition. The piece L’amour me va has wavy and soothing rhythms. It’s another one that has a lovely meditation. Laura Gagné did impressive work composing this song with grace. She blended a semi-fast beat with moments of spoken word, creating a comforting ambiance. Je m’en vais (I’m going) has a fantastic rhythm. It feels positive and hopeful. Laura Gagné composed the song with a sense of empowerment.
The song Plus fort que le coeur has a dynamic dance beat that parallels music from the late 90s and early 2000s. It’s immersive and upbeat, yet it also feels calming. It gives off a vibe of contemplation and peace. Laura Gagné and Montréal Canada composed this tune with incredible precision.
The tune Exode has subtle music in the background, a bold contrast to the rest of the record. It’s a remarkable piece that reminds me of another song I reviewed in July 2023, Jay Virdee’s single I Believe (In Me). It ends with the style of Spoken Word. Laura Gagné did an excellent job creating an acoustic-style atmosphere to focus more on the lyrics.
The album has remarkable, intricate compositions, giving it diverse musical styles.
Laura Gagné’s voice is soft and soulful, like a whisper. She sings with genuine humanity and vulnerability, and her vocal style creates remarkable energy. She performs each song with heart and soul.
The lyrics are profound, romantic and reflective. The songs have phenomenal and poetic metaphors.
Some songs focus on self-reflection and contemplation, looking within. Perdue dans la Foule (lost in the crowd) is a profound, soulful piece that covers the challenges of searching for one’s identity. It’s a heartfelt metaphor about getting to know oneself in a “crowd” of emotions that one feels. Je m’en vais (I’m going) describes in a sincere way the struggles to tune out the judgement and opinions of others and to be confident in what one does. The song is soulful and full of hope and courage. Exode is an incredibly poetic song about life’s journey to discover the world (both metaphorically and literally). It’s written with heart and soul.
Other songs are romantic and sweet. Flamme Jumelle (Twin Flame) is a soulful tune about taking a leap of faith with a new love. Laura Gagné captures this sentiment perfectly. It beautifully describes the courage and fear of falling in love with, and in case, a twin flame. Plus fort que le coeur (more potent than the heart) describes wholeheartedly the mixed emotions one feels when falling in love. The words are from the heart. Laura Gagné and Montréal Canada did an excellent job writing this song. L’amour me va (Love Suits Me) is a heartfelt, sentimental piece. Laura Gagné beautifully describes how love is constantly transforming and evolving and the splendidness in all of it.
The songs are heartfelt and soulful, conveying an incredible variety of emotions through poetic lyrics.
The album Exode is available.
