Release Date: 10 May 2024
Label: Tru Thoughts
Below Dawn is the second studio album by singer, songwriter and musician, Bryony Jarman-Pinto. As it traverses sentimental themes, from societal change and untapped emotions to the profound journey of pregnancy and motherhood, the album exudes an aura of intimacy. This emotional depth is complemented by Bryony's distinctive, harmonious vocals and the infusion of jazz-inspired melodies. ‘Below Dawn’ is a deeply personal and transformative musical journey, the title encapsulates this transition beautifully. “This album speaks about myself just before I gave birth and stepped into a new era, so the name reflects that underlying hidden catalyst” Bryony adds. The album is produced by Ben Lamdin, aka label-mate Nostalgia 77, whose credits include writing and producing for artists such as Jamie Cullum, Alice Russell, and Jeb Loy Nichols.
Below Dawn's inception coincided with the initial stages of the pandemic, and the early songs capture the emotional turmoil of those times. These tracks served as a cathartic release for the tensions and frustrations experienced during lockdown. The album opens with Bryony’s heartfelt reactions to societal challenges, beginning with the uplifting, playful “Water Come”, an invitation to cleanse the residual fear, anxiety and ignorance induced by these external factors. As Bryony grapples with the disarray, she finds space to speak up on “O” as a therapeutic expression of stifled thoughts that often fall by the wayside. The fluttering chords and bass-line were written together with Dwayne Kilvington, recent Nala Sinphero collaborator, to pair with the ever-poetic lyrics that Bryony had been working on. “Leap” continues this conversation with herself and humanity, as she vocalises her observations of the BLM activism at the time and gives thought to her own experiences, highlighting that ignorance leads to inaction with the line “Closed eyes won’t see”.
Elsewhere, “Deep” blossomed from a vocal improvisation that Bryony took from a Jazz Workshop she ran through lockdown. Now a nocturne, the love song is dedicated to Bryony’s partner at the point that they decided to start a family, beautifully summed up by the line “we are golden light, about to dawn”, linking back to the title of the project.