Review: "Refined Believer" - OSKA

On OSKA's latest album, the title track, "Refined Believer", is a deeply personal song with honest lyrics that are a breath of fresh air. The song conveys love and connections in a realistic, relatable way. While falling in love is an exciting, beautiful, and fun experience, its not always perfect once you remove the rose-colored lenses. OSKA shows all the complexities of falling in love with lyrics such as "Starting the fight, then starting to cry. But all my sadness subsides, when your smile lights up the sky." Falling in love is not always easy and relationships are not linear. Experiencing a few bumps in the road while falling in love is normal. Despite the potential hardships, love is still a beautiful thing. Even with the pain it can bring, strong feelings of love can form equally strong ties of loyalty. The loyalty can be so strong it leans more into devotion for that person you love. "Refined Believer" portrays the true nature of falling in love with all its ups and downs that you may push through, even if it can cause emotional pain.

From the very moment the song starts and OSKA's vocals hit your ears, you are immediately reeled into a heartbreakingly intimate setting. OSKA's voice is full of raw honesty. Each lyric sounds like a personal confession typically saved for whispers between the shadows of a quiet night. OSKA has a powerful, emotion-laden tone. It makes it feel as if you are being personally comforted or serenaded. OSKA's vocal tone has a unique quality that fills listeners with emotions and keeps them hooked on every lyric and note. The impactful yet soft and airy sound of OSKA's voice is reminiscent of singer-songwriters like Billie Marten and Jade Bird. Throughout "Refined Believer", the consistent, soft strums of a guitar backs OSKA's clear, almost fairy-like voice which adds to the overall serene, emotional vibe of the song. Near the end of the song, the music builds for a moment with the repetition of the lyric "It's gonna take all my life", creating an ethereal sound as the song draws to a close.

Viennese indie-pop singer-songwriter OSKA was born into a family of talented singers and musicians, which led to her discovering her voice from a young age. OSKA was raised in a small village in Lower Austria until she moved to Vienna to pursue her love and passion for music at the age of 18. While in Vienna, OSKA began busking throughout the city’s streets and squares. After years spent honing her voice and featuring for different artists, OSKA released "Distant Universe" in 2020, and soon after, signed to Nettwerk Music Group. The following year, OSKA released her debut EP, "Honeymoon Phase," which received critical acclaim and industry recognition, including awards like the XA Music Export Award at the 2020 Waves Vienna Showcase Festival and an Amadeus Austrian Music Award in 2022. OSKA also joined singer Tom Odell on his European tour, and in addition to that, played at the Eurosonic Showcase Festival in 2023, where she won the Music Moves Europe Talent Award - an award previously given to talented artists like Rosalía, Dua Lipa, Hozier, and Adele. OSKA's sophomore album "Refined Believer" was recently released on June 20th, which is described as "her most personal to date". OSKA is currently playing at multiple concerts in various cities throughout Germany and Austria, and tickets can be found here!

Written By Kyler Griggs

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