Hana Piranha – Valentine

Let’s be honest, when we think of the modern alternative music scene, we all have to agree that there have been so many artists and bands delivering excellent music. Still, not so many of them are willing to go way beyond the rules of the genre. It almost feels like they’re afraid of experimenting with other styles, like something is going to happen if they break the mold. At the end of the day, those recordings end up being just another piece of alternative rock music, lying on the pile of the same old, repetitive, bland attempts that the crowd easily forgets. Thankfully, there are artists like Hana Piranha willing to break all the rules and shapeshift the boundaries of this longstanding genre. Her songs always feel so fresh, unique, innovative, and exciting, just like the first time you stumbled upon alternative rock music on the radio or streaming services. With “Valentine,” her latest standalone single released today via all streaming platforms, she not only delivers one of the finest pieces of rock music in recent years but also showcases what alternative music, when done right, could be. Her fascinating songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities are on full display here, as she tastefully, thoughtfully, and expertly constructs a calm, soothing, ethereal atmosphere that immediately wraps around your listening apparatus and refuses to let you go long after the latest notes and beats end. Lyrically, ‘Valentine’ crystallises that electric, fateful moment when you meet someone and witness the entire arc of a relationship flash before your eyes – the promise, the passion, the inevitable unravelling. It’s a composition that tackles all the senses and emotions, making it a highly relatable piece that will immediately resonate with the audience. Sonically, perhaps alternative rock music dominates, mainly because Hana Piranha incorporated all the fundamental elements of the genre, but do not be surprised if you stumble upon other forms of rock or pop music. There are subtle touches of blues, indie rock, rock ‘n’ roll, art pop, and contemporary pop, but these styles serve more as enhancements that uplift this composition to an entirely new level. Besides carrying qualities that meet all the trends in contemporary music production, you’ll unquestionably notice how Hana Piranha included some retro moves, spicing up this song even more.

From the introductory notes and beats, it becomes apparent that Hana Piranha poured heart and soul into this fine piece of sonic artistry. With its lush, immersive, enchanting atmosphere, ”Valentine” stands as a true representative of “Heart of Darkness,“ Piranha’s upcoming extended play release. The song carries a perfect structure, decorated with many profoundly detailed segments, brilliant ideas, and outstanding instrumentations. But you’ll definitely notice Hana Piranha’s captivating voice. Her soulful, passionate, emotive, and sincere vocal performance elevates everything to new heights, commands attention, and guides listeners from scratch to finish. During the verses, she keeps her voice in low registers, while during the choruses her performance leans towards higher notes. Still, Hana Piranha somehow keeps her voice calm, soothing, and relaxing, suiting an almost cinematic ambiance brought through thoughtfully assembled instrumentations. Besides decorating all those segments and orchestrations, her vocal performance also contributes more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate structure. In the meantime, the interplay between synths and guitars shapes a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. On one side, you’ll hear how luxuriant synth themes, melodies, harmonies, sequences, and pads shine, while on the other, catchy, memorable, jangly, angular chord progressions add more depth and complexity. It’s nearly mindblowing how all these layers articulate without overwhelming each other, proving that Hana Piranha thought about everything while writing, composing, arranging, and producing this epic song. These orchestrations become even more complex, colossal, and fascinating during the choruses. Of course, this composition wouldn’t sound complete without the rock-solid rhythm section. You’ll notice how intricate, vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines rumble beneath synths and guitars, offering more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth while acting as a binding element between the mentioned instruments and drums. The exceptional drumming performance, based upon cleverly assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated, moderate beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, keeps everything in line while dictating groove and depth. Each instrument plays a significant role here, making “Valentine” such a pleasant listening experience worth revisiting over and over again.

“Valentine” is one of the finest alternative rock compositions you’ll hear this year. It carries all the fundamental elements of the genre, yet goes far beyond anything you could possibly imagine. With this song, Hana Piranha not only announces her upcoming EP but also showcases her tremendous songwriting and composing abilities, proving she’s one of the best songwriters in the game. “Valentine” will be right up your alley if you’re looking for a soulful, emotional, fascinating listening experience, empowered by marvelous vocal, sonic, and rhythmic performance. Head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out.