Elizabeth Winterbourne – Salem (2025)
A compelling artist known for her willingness to delve into the core of humanity in all its triumph and tragedy, Elizabeth Winterbourne uses an eclectic sonic palette to capture universal truths and resonate with international audiences. I’ll admit, this is my introduction to Elizabeth Winterbourne, but with a quick gander at her discography, I find a sense of comfort and companionship across her singles (even the poignant and slightly eerie tunes). Today, we take a look and listen to the most recent addition, ‘Salem’.
Following the well-received song ‘Smoke Rises’, Winterbourne takes her first step or rather saunters into 2025 with ‘Salem’. An immediate connection with witches occurs when you mention Salem, and, well, that’s what this song is all about… kind of. Whether you cheered or cried at those witch trials – I don’t mean literally, of course – the idea of a person being attacked, slandered, and even killed because of individuality is at the heart of Winterbourne’s single. She explains:
“’Salem’ is a song about witches. Sort of… it’s really about “witches” in a broader sense. Even though we are outside the era of witch trials, we still see similar patterns in terms of how women and other minorities are treated by narcissistic men in power. ‘Salem’ serves to point out these patterns, challenge them as frameworks, and even offer a sense of retribution and justice…”
Similar to ‘Smoke Rises’, ‘Salem’ dips into the realm of folk-pop, echoing the powerful lyricism of Joni Mitchell with the force of Hozier and the innocence of Lizzie McAlpine. Yet, while there is a light-hearted youthfulness entwined in the rich vocals and folk-inspired melody, ‘Salem’ is far more than that. Combining a bold drum with guitar and dynamic percussion swimming in the kaleidoscopic melody, you already find yourself walking through a mystical sonic forest. For me, however, it is the powerful strings that grab you, swirl you about, and add both haunting and strength to this symphony.
Find out more about Elizabeth Winterbourne on her official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more folk-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Folk Pop playlist:
