Album Review: Hey Boy

Grace in name, graceful in nature, Hey Boy is a delightfully relaxing 12 track album from Auckland based Folk musician Shana Grace. This is her second album following Rinse And Repeat (2019) and Hello, It’s Me Again her debut EP (2016). If ever there was a singer/songwriter to pull me out of music review hibernation, Shana Grace is a good choice.

There is a purity in her sound which is the perfect balm to soothe a chaotic mind on a chore laden Saturday. Her songwriting style is conversational in style, reminiscent of an old friend telling a captivating story.

Hey Boy, is a collection of songs which have been given a new lease of life. As with her previous album, there is a tranquility and softness in her delivery.

The opening track Tuesday offers a glimpse that this is more than acoustic picking. There is an added layer of depth from the piano and smooth electric guitar. The velvety sound creates the perfect backdrop which make her gentle vocals shine.

Mister Lego Man, which was also released as a single has been described as “an eleven-year-old song which has been through many iterations before finally being released in its final form”. This is an upbeat track with a pop undertone, delivered in Shona’s conversational manner highlighting her delightful songwriting style.

Quirky yet poetic lyrics over stripped back instrumental is what makes Shona’s music fresh and interesting. I have described her sound in the past as charming, while I run the risk of sounding gushy, I also want to add delightful to the mix of adjectives.

My personal standout on Hey Boy is Oi, a nice mix of guitar laden instrumentals balancing against Shona’s vocals, I enjoyed the structure and flow of this track, it has a brightness to it, slightly spirited in its delivery.

The title track Hey Boy suggested an innocent love story, a hint of backing vocals in the mix creating soft delicate layers which complement the authentic unpretentious lyrics.

Shona’s vulnerable minimalist approach to her songwriting and music composition is what gives her the delicate genuine sound which wraps around the listener like a warm shawl. Previously her music has been described as other worldly, I am fighting the terrible urge to use ethereal as a descriptor, but there is that vibe about it.

Hey Boy, is a solid second album from Shona Grace. Style and substance, delivered beautifully without all the bells and whistles. Less is more in this instance, a lot more.