Some artists just keep getting better, trying new things, and one upping themselves, and we’ve got to confidently say that Gabrielle Ornate is one of ‘em. We’ve reviewed her music plenty of times and we’ve loved every release, but “Shadow Dream” feels special even by her standards. It’s catchy, atmospheric, and wonderfully memorable, and it’s been stuck in our heads nonstop since the moment we first heard it!

For those potentially out of the know, Ornate is an exceptional artist based in Suffolk who describes her sound as modern rock with ancient soul and that’s exactly what you get here. The song guides you through a dreamscape, lifting you out of the shadows and into the light, and it does it with a real alternative rock and pop edge. It’s the kind of track that feels mystical without ever getting too heady to enjoy. Her songs are always full of clever lyricism, and to no surprise in the slightest, she’s continued that trend in a super cool way here.

Her vocals are 100% the star of the show. She sings with outstanding confidence and control, and the song is very vocal forward, giving her room to lead the whole way. Then the chorus arrives, and it’s huge! That hook that lodges itself in your head after one listen and stays there all day. You’ll be humming it everywhere you go, that we can essentially promise.

The instrumental side is just as fun. There are some really cool breakdowns that shift the energy and keep things unpredictable, and the guitar moments are a blast. The bass lines are groovy and give the song a bounce that pairs perfectly with all that atmosphere. Not to spoil too much, but there’s a ripping solo towards the end that caps it off in the best way ever.

At just over three minutes, “Shadow Dream” moves quickly without ever feeling rushed. It makes its point, delivers its payoff, and leaves you wanting to press play again. It also fits right in with the rest of her catalog, with all those melodic earworms, singing guitar leads, and loop-in-your-head riffs we’ve come to expect.

That’s what makes Ornate such a pleasure to follow! Her music is rooted in female empowerment and deep introspection, but it never loses its sense of fun. She owns her musical melting pot with total conviction and “Shadow Dream” is a wonderful example of why it works.

So please, go ahead and click those links below to get into it, follow along for more, and of course to stay tuned for hopefully so much more in the works.

Listen to “Shadow Dream”
Spotify

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Gabrielle Ornate brings all the grooves on a new single, “Shadow Dream”