New York City–based harpist, singer-songwriter, and composer Stephanie Babirak shares a cover of ‘Moon River’, the third single from her sophomore album Rotten Fruit, out 12 June.
Reimagining the timeless classic, Babirak turns nostalgia into something more melancholic, with a traditional harp sound and an ethereal synth that feel like a dark lullaby, carried by her angelic vocals.
“‘Moon River’ has always been one of my favorite old standards. I used to get asked to play it for weddings and cocktail hours constantly, and it’s usually treated as something purely sweet and nostalgic. I was curious what would happen if I leaned into a darker, unsettling vibe for this cover instead, because nostalgia can be both beautiful and sad at the same time. I kept the harp front and center, but layered in mellotron synths and lush background vocals to give it a slightly more distorted and suspended feeling. Peter Scoma plays guitar and sings harmonies on the track, and together we tried to treat it less like a wedding song and more like a ghost.”
Stephanie Babirak
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