Emilie Kahn – Outro

Outro front cover

Outro is the second album from Canadian harpist Emilie Kahn. Formerly performing and releasing under the moniker Emilie & Ogden, the follow-up top 2016’s 10,000 sees Kahn performing as herself, nothing to hide behind yet taking heart from the fact that this is her. Outro could therefore conversely be seen as the intro to the ‘real’ Emilie Kahn.

As befitting anything that features a harp, the sound of Outro is as lush as you would expect. Every plucked string and strummed note is crystalline in its tone, light but conveying depth. As a focal point it is one not found in pop enough.

Overall, the theme of Outro is one of questioning the past to move forward. Opening track Swimmer is melancholically beautiful, the light addition of synths contributing to the dream-like atmosphere primarily generated by Kahn’s playing. “This is just a conversation I’m having with myself” is heartrendingly delivered and is a thought we’ve all had at one point or another. Kahn’s delivery hints at some hurt, perceived or real, she has experienced at the hands of another and wanting to escape by swimming through the air.

The first single from Outro is Island, which was also the first song written, and catalyst, for Outro:

I think as women we are often made to feel like we should be in competition with each other, something I’ve always felt in the music industry; I wrote “Island” about that feeling of isolation that comes with worrying that you may never be special enough…Marie-Soleil Denault, the director, and I decided to subvert that narrative and portray a vision of women finding refuge in solidarity instead.

Three shows a more mature sound to Kahn’s sound; a more traditionally instrumented song with the bass playing and drumming forcing it along at a, relatively, breakneck speed. “I’m tired of playing this guessing game, this guessing game” is a defiant breakaway that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.

We then come to Will You?, the second single which, on the surface, is a simple love song and is played as such. Look beneath the surface and what you have is an Emilie Kahn who knows what she wants – and if you are unable or unwilling to answer her questions in the right way then, no. It is an affirmation of knowing one’s mind and drawing strength from it, having learned from past experiences.

Aquarium is a beautiful ballad with surreal imagery, again Kahn’s harp used to great dream-like effect. It also shows that she is no afraid to go simple as well as complex. Horse proves that Three was no fluke musically, and Don’t is a vehicle for Kahn’s voice to explore and express emotion. After taking a bit of a backseat the harp comes back to the fore in Never Good Enough and closing track Seeking.

Whether as Emilie & Ogden or as herself, you should be hearing a lot more of Emilie Kahn in the very near future. Outro is a good album that has many depths and layers; her instrument of choice makes her a unique proposition. You could do a lot worse than investing your time and money in Outro.

Outro by Emile Kahn will be released on February 22^nd on Secret City Records.