Review: "Higher" - Toby Lightman

Toby Lightman brings a newfound love for an old soul sound in her lead single, "Higher". Serenading and inspiring her audiences with her signature fervent vocals, Lightman shows off her evocative style with a resonant melody. "Higher" is Lightman's ode to authenticity and not sacrificing, but embracing one's identity amid hardship and doubt. A central theme of this track is growing as we go, as we age through life, an underrated sentiment that Lightman shows love to throughout this single. Lightman conquers the questioning of her self-worth, singing, "Where there is a mountain, I'm gonna climb it, " and repeating the words, "I'm not going down". That said, it is nearly impossible to not exit Spotify feeling resilient, seen, and capable after listening to Lightman's powerfully raw lyrics. "Higher" is a special piece that encourages listeners to pick their heads up and "rise," fearlessly breaking old boundaries and achieving new heights.

"Higher" is a deeply passionate track that combines various elements to create a gripping sound. The uplifting, inspiratory instrumentals provide a nice foundation for Lightman's powerful, heart-stirring vocals. The lyrical genius behind this piece shines through Lightman's emotionally charged delivery and resonates deeply in our journey's through self discovery. The chorus is climactic. As Lightman rises above waters and climbs her mountains, she enters in with a resolute tone, capturing the listener's attention instantaneously. The whole-spirited repetition of the lyrics emphasize the importance of persevering, insisting that we must rise when the going gets tougher. Overall, this song is a moving one, stealing our hearts one beat at a time.

Toby Lightman is a powerhouse. Recognized by People, Billboard, and Rolling Stone on her past albums, Lightman has revitalized the pop scene with a fresh take on a most beloved subgenre of soul-pop. Her latest album, AFTER ALL, a self-produced gem released back in 2022, not only carried heavy admiration and tribute to her idol, Prince, but also marked her very first production.  Refusing to be put in a box, Lightman taught herself to produce, dedicated to setting precedent for women in the production industry and rewriting the stiff narrative it has laid out for women to follow. "Higher" is a tease of what's to come from an upcoming album to be released later this year, echoing the notions of self-love and honesty. Not only can we hope to see more meaningful heavy-hitters in this album but also another showcase of the many talents Lightman has gracefully shared with the world. Stay tuned for more updates and follow the links below!"

Written By Pejah Carr

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