Review: "July Eleven" - Mila Vandelle

Do you have that one date? Not like a first date, but a day of the year that you will never forget. That stays with you, in the best and worst ways. It breaks you, yet when you look at it, you’re healing along the way. Mila Vandelle’s debut single, “July Eleven”, tells the story about July 11th, her breakup. It speaks on letting go from that love that you can’t seem to leave, but for your own good you do. I’m going to be honest: I have never cried during a first time listen of a song review, and this one had me in tears. Mila’s goal with her songs is to connect to the listener by her raw-storytelling and emotional lyricism. This reached me in so many different ways that I cannot explain. If you need that one song to understand you and what you’re going through, this is definitely the one.

This song was produced and renowned by New Zealand producers Luan Meaker and EDYONTHEBEAT, and they both did an incredible job. Starting with soft plucks of the guitar, they create a soothing atmospheric background, with the reverb setting the scene of this emotional story. The reverb also has a long decay, making it call-back as if looking back on the past. A perfect addition to this is the classic, old rhode piano chords, giving a more heartfelt vibe overall. The drums introduced in the chorus help the pacing as well, with them being chained and strategically spaced out. They also reflect off of each other perfectly. The vocals in this are very Billie Eilish coded too, with a similar vibrato but stronger support. Her grace notes and riffs are very melodic as well, with perfect articulation. The vocal harmonies also tuck perfectly into the instrumental, wrapping this song in a blanket for more comfort. Utilizing the piano’s higher octave throughout the finale of the song was a perfect element to add emphasize on the callbacks and lyrics, ending this song in a beautiful and heartfelt journey.

Mila Vandelle is a singer/songwriter based out of Auckland, New Zealand. Making her way to the stage, Mila’s goal is to be on a global stage with a growing international fan base. Her work can best be described as healing, emotionally raw, and touching. This is only the beginning of her journey, and Mila is only going to grow bigger. Her inspirations drive off of many artists such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean, and Holly Humberstone. Her music resonates within, and creates a feeling of connection between the listener and the artist. If you loved this song and are looking to keep up on Mila, follow her using the links below!

Written By Nevaeh Scott

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