Opening “Oakland” with some atonality and minimal instrumentation before her vocals come in is an interesting choice on the part of Leah Dunn. The disorienting almost anti-melody reflects the sense of how her experience in Oakland and a relationship undertaken there played out. The poetically vivid lyrics lay out how Dunn was drawn in by the mystery and romance of the moment and how these stories we tell ourselves help us to not just highlight the significance of experiences but also helps to obscure from our comprehension obvious warning signs. Dunn’s vocals, vulnerable and more conventionally melodic contrasts with the sounds of strings hitting “wrong” and at borderline jarring tones showing the clarity versus all the hints that things weren’t going to go well long term until both aspects of the song come together in a strong, unified final section of the song and thus the moment of realization. The song ends with a nod to the atonality because life is uncertain and no matter what we learn we’re capable of making the same mistake again and best to have compassion for one’s human frailties. Listen to the song on Apple Music and follow Leah Dunn at the links provided.
open.spotify.com/artist/1zrefLbUbnYR1GAVrUNkRQ
instagram.com/leahdunndunn
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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