Bryony Jarman-Pinto - Below Dawn (Album)
‘Below Dawn’ is the second studio album by singer, songwriter and musician, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, out 10th May via Tru Thoughts. As it traverses sentimental themes, from societal change and untapped emotions to the profound journey of pregnancy and motherhood, the album exudes an aura of intimacy with harmonious vocals and the infusion of jazz-inspired melodies. ‘Below Dawn’ is a deeply personal and transformative musical journey, the title encapsulates this transition beautifully.
“This album speaks about myself just before I gave birth and stepped into a new era so, the name reflects that underlying hidden catalyst” Bryony adds. The album is produced by Ben Lamdin, aka label-mate Nostalgia 77, whose credits include writing and producing for artists such as Jamie Cullum, Alice Russell, and Jeb Loy Nichols.
The focus track, “Deep” blossomed from a vocal improvisation that Bryony took from a Jazz Workshop she ran through lockdown. Now a nocturne, the love song is dedicated to Bryony’s partner at the point that they decided to start a family, beautifully summed up by the line “we are golden light, about to dawn”, linking back to the title of the project.
The early songs of ‘Below Dawn' capture the emotional turmoil of the initial stages of the pandemic. These tracks served as a cathartic release for the tensions and frustrations experienced during lockdown. The album opens with the uplifting, playful “Water Come”, an invitation to cleanse the residual fear, anxiety and ignorance induced by these external factors. As Bryony grapples with the disarray, she finds space to speak up on “O” as a therapeutic expression of stifled thoughts that often fall by the wayside. The fluttering chords and bass line were written together with Dwayne Kilvington, recent Nala Sinphero collaborator, to pair with the ever-poetic lyrics that Bryony had been working on. “Leap” continues this conversation with herself and humanity, as she vocalises her observations of activism and gives thought to her own experiences as a mixed-race woman, highlighting that ignorance leads to inaction with the line “Closed eyes won’t see”.
As she became a mother, the themes of Bryony’s songwriting moved closer to home. The second half of ‘Below Dawn’ delves into her inner world, exploring emotions and relationships within her new family. Named after her daughter, “Frida-Rae” exemplifies this raw emotion in the form of a stripped-back lullaby that describes the excitement and endless joy of falling more and more in love each morning with your newborn. Amid these familial reflections, “Station Road” revisits fond, childhood memories as an ode to times spent with her Grandma. The slow, moving keys and rich double bass soundtrack Bryony's warming, nostalgic sentiments which are revisited across the LP.