Lyrah’s Stripped Down Version of “Down Low” Gives a Deeper Shade of Meaning to its Thoughtful Lyrics

Lyrah1_cropped — Lyrah, photo courtesy the artist

Lyrah’s vocals on “Down Low” sound like a close focus on the situation about which she’s singing with the music, as step away yet framing and accenting the melody with moody atmospherics and texture. As a stripped down version of the original from Lyrah’s Chemicals EP, it feels like a complete re-imagining of the song besides the lyrics. Where the original has more processed vocals and more electronics and texture, this version of the song with its moodiness and more expansive feel fits the theme of the song even further of a commentary on a clingy and possessive lover in what was understood to be a casual, even short term relationship with someone essentially incompatible. Whatever the exact circumstances, Lyrah’s vocals and songwriting demonstrate a command of dynamics and melody that allow for a broad range of expression in the context of a pop song. The interesting juxtaposition of subtle focal elements in the track for this version of the song also shows Lyrah’s versatile talent as a songsmith capable of reworking the tone of a song to suit a mood.