Irina-R: “Sailing Home” – don’t listen with your ears; listen with your heart!

Even as the first notes of “30 Square Meters”, melt into your consciousness you may feel yourself taking a deep breath and relaxing into the mood. What a stunning, uplifting start to a poetic album. And after listening to the entire 11 tracks, I can honestly say that “Sailing Home” by Irina-R, is one of the most tasteful, intellectual and emotionally satisfying explorations within sound I’ve heard lately. Irina-R, who comes from a family where everyone plays music, started playing music herself, when she was nine years-old, by studying the piano at the Conservatoire and then the guitar, a few years later.

Irina-R is absolutely stunning, there’s something about every aspect of her – inside out – that’s so mesmerizing to me. She thinks before she sings. Listening to her music has been an almost like a spiritual awakening for me. She sings wisdom. Yet, she also expresses her human frailties. While Irina-R’s music is very diverse, one thing she doesn’t fail to emphasis is positivity and optimism: two things that are absolutely essential for human survival. Positivity can never be too overrated as long as this world exists.

The album notes explain that “Sailing Home” describes the fact of going away to find back ourselves. Leaving towards distant shores to remind ourselves where we come from; almost getting lost to understand better who we really are. To lose our mind, find our way; and love. This is what Irina-R wanted to say with “Sailing Home”. And that is exactly what she has achieved. It is a very strong, life affirming album and anyone who listens to this album will find strength. Musically, “Sailing Home” is dynamic and refreshing. Lyrically, it is soulful, honest, and thought provoking.

Track to track the album is awe inspiring. Irina-R sings about finding happiness and joy with one’s self and with the people and things that surrounds us, without neglecting the advent of adversities. She delivers a good collection of soothing songs that come right from her heart. Her unique voice and style of music is what makes her stand out amongst a sea of modern-day Jazz and Neo-Soul singers. In fact it’s pretty damn incredible what this woman can do. Not only because of the sheer musicianship displayed on every track, but also because of a level of personal experience you can hear in her music. How else would you explain tracks such as “30 Square Meters”, “Sailor”, “Raindrop”, “Monday Morning”, “I Wish”, “Question” and “Suzanne Storm”?

Irina-R has found the perfect balance of well-thought out messages embedded in simple but sophisticated, organic music arrangements that borrows from soul, jazz, and folk. Acoustic guitars, pianos, double bass and drums, keep the sound gentle, warm and all-enveloping, while Irina-R’s voice dances and sways across the sonic canvas, offering something pure and divine. The album, “Sailing Home”, reflects the journey and inner workings of a woman’s soul. Don’t listen with your ears; listen with your heart…