It’s been one hell of a fortnight for musical discoveries. We’ve been on a real rollercoaster. But as I write this, enjoying a comfy candlelit Monday night, I want to return to a particular brand of music that I would describe as a storyteller’s snuggery. Something that can inspire such beautiful emotion and still soothe me like a cup of tea, you know? Allow me to introduce you to Ali Moore, a Scottish artist with a true knack for painting soundscapes with the most brilliant hues of warmth and sensitivity. A month ago, he released the delightfully poignant ‘The Architect,’ and you simply need to hear it!
‘The Architect’ is the second chapter in a trilogy of tales that delve deep into the evocative truths behind a sundered relationship. In this chapter, thanks to the homely, compassionate instrumentals and Moore’s angelic timbre, you’ll find yourself tearing up as you immerse yourself in the potent ache of watching the person you loved move on with another. The way that Moore’s lyrics unveil the soreness of watching a loved one move someone else into the life that you had built together will let you walk the world of the broken-hearted, even if you have never traversed that path yourself. Oh yeah, I’ve got a real gem for you tonight.
The Architect
From the very first second, you know that this track is going to play on your heartstrings. You get to hear this gorgeously heavy-hearted acoustic guitar riff that, in its isolation, wraps around the tangible negative space like the last embrace of two lovers. The tender-tongued string work leads to Moore’s vocals so delicately that it reminded me of the almost frail nature in which you’d wistfully turn through the dust-laced pages of an old photo album. Put differently, you can feel with every note of that guitar that the subject matter is abundantly bright with unhealed pain.
Then Moore’s vocals come in, and…divinity is the only word that comes to mind. In my mind, his performance resembles that of a wildflower’s grace; it’s glowing with a fresh, natural prettiness that enchants you completely. What’s more, the airiness of Moore’s vocals combs through the dreamily sorrowful plucks of the guitar in such a stirring way that I feel like this song could have no lyrics, and I’d still feel the story in the track’s heartbeat.
Speaking of lyrics, the lines in ‘The Architect’ have a depth that you’d find in most time-stilling pages of a romance novel. With lyrics like ‘Envy burns in my chest knowing your life turned out for the best / And I was the architect’ and ‘But if I could go back and change things, I’m not sure that I would / It seems he makes you happier than I ever could,’ how could you hear anything but pure poetry? That imagery of envy burning in your chest is so vivid, especially in conjunction with the idea that you perhaps wouldn’t change fate for a different outcome. Together, these lyrics place you into the mind where selfless love trumps selfish love, and it is just as soul-splintering as it is tragically beautiful.
By the time you reach the end of the track, you’ll have both known and lost love, but the ending will truly make sure you feel its absence. That short-lived twang on the final ‘architect’ resembles a fleeting moment of joy, a brief glimmer of the happiness that makes the heartbreak so raw. And then the silence hits, and even if you yourself aren’t tearing up, a part of what makes you human is.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/alithemusic/
ALT: Master of sonic storytelling Ali Moore sits in a grey chair while resting his guitar on his knee.
Ali Moore
Ever since the young age of nine, Ali Moore has demonstrated to those around him that he was destined to wow the world with his original music. As a young guitarist, Moore often found that, much to the frustration of his teachers, he was much more comfortable constructing his own riffs rather than imitating those of others.
That drive to be unwaveringly true to himself through his music has etched out a trail of uniqueness that spans across Moore’s entire musical trilogy. Whether you’re falling in love with the comfy, twinkling melody of ‘The Architect,’ consuming your mood-rich blues with the thunder-spitting rock riffs of ‘For the Best,’ or rediscovering your joy amidst the glowing composition of ‘I Choose Happy,’ Ali Moore has crafted a saga that will feel as if it was written specifically for you. That’s the power of his dedication to originality; it’s too real to be anything less than gorgeously individualised.
Beyond his musical career, Ali Moore is also someone with a partiality for perspective-broadening travel. A visit to Nepal had Moore smitten, and that was especially thanks to the abundant warmth and kindness of the Nepali. In fact, Moore was so inspired by the wonders he encountered during his trip that he then went on to work with the Chance for Nepal charity to raise funds for much-needed food parcels.
Going one step beyond, Moore also encouraged his fans to open their ears to Nepal’s delightful world of music with his charming rendition of Shashwot Khadka’s ‘Batash.’ I highly recommend you check out this cover on Moore’s YouTube channel. It was an amazing way to honour Nepal’s Dashain festival!
Given that it was only recently that Ali Moore dropped the third chapter of his romantic trio of tales, it’s unclear what’s next for the adventurous singer-songwriter. While we wait for more gems, however, we have a completed, poetically written trilogy to enchant us!
‘The Architect’ is available to listen to right now across all major streaming platforms! You know what to do.
Till next time.