An Emotional And Impactful New Single from Shimmer Johnson
Release from Shimmer Johnson comes through with an amazing blend of a sort of '80s pop influence, combining string synths, keys, robust and vivacious vocals, and plenty of honesty that lets the song deliver character, which is something that you end up really holding on to throughout the rest of its course.
"Imposter" is definitely a pretty personal song, as it comes from a place that describes being with someone or around others who put you on a pedestal and look at you in a certain light; meanwhile, because of that, you feel like you need to live up to it.
It's seemingly about wanting to be stronger, having a lot of self-doubt, and throughout the track, all of this comes through with such detail that it's very connective.
The sentiment is incredibly relatable to a lot of people at different points in their lives, especially.
Her lyrical performance is something that makes amazing sense, and she doesn't really hold anything back. She lets herself be vulnerable and also unafraid at the same time.
She's holding back the real her and doesn't want the other person to see that.
Now, this is just how I took the song. Others may interpret it a little differently, but for me, the sentiment was loud and clear, mainly because I understand exactly where she's coming from.
As I said, it's a very relatable song, and she has a brilliant way of laying out those lyrics so that they make sense to you in such a personal manner that you can't really turn away from it.
It takes bravery to put a song out there in this way. To not have walls built around what you're singing about and to speak such heavy-handed truths is pretty impressive, not to mention doing so in a way that literally anyone can completely understand.
This is exactly what I mean by having character.
There are a lot of keys that drive this song. It again, it holds true to some sort of vintage pop undertones that must be influential to her sound from the beginning. The song has a wonderful way of growing, and as it does so, you do have these bigger synths and keys that act almost like strings, bringing out this orchestral approach and, once again, building into a much more cinematic aesthetic.
She keeps her vocals a little more subtle and calm during the verses. When the pre-choruses and choruses themselves come in, she starts getting bigger, louder, and more intense. The song and music, instrumentation and all, are built with that level of intensity, and it becomes something quite engulfing.
Soon, the beat starts growing, and you have more layers of percussion that come in along with more strings and synths, and the song starts becoming more lush and full-bodied.
Some of the other synths that come in a little later in the song beckon electronic music with beautiful melodic approaches, but a slight edginess to them, adding hints of drive to the soundscape.
This was a wonderfully woven and brilliantly arranged song. It has a lot of calm before the storms; she's able to build into those big and emotional climaxes, and the whole thing comes through feeling very authentic.
I think that's what we want from songs like that. We want to feel something from listening. This song lets you feel plenty.
This is exactly what we need from music these days. We need music that lets you think or feel. Music that showcases personality and honesty.
I absolutely adore how she can display the emotional backbone of the song so powerfully and sing with such a sort of soulful passion, especially during those choruses.
To me, this is quite an impactful and cinematic single that definitely showcases her ability to create music with very few boundaries.
This is a pop single, but it is also a sort of power ballad, and Shimmer Johnson is clearly an artist who gives pieces of herself in her music, as this single prominently displays.
So, put on some headphones, because it's one of the best ways to listen to this track, and soak it in.
I'm sure that you will feel something from this song and understand exactly where I'm coming from with it. More importantly, you will likely understand exactly where she is coming from with it.
