Chris Pellnat is an innately gifted singer-songwriter from Hudson Valley, New York. He has established himself as a consummate professional in his career by tirelessly honing inventive melodies and lyrical subtlety. Whether solo as a talented guitarist or with bands like The Warp/The Weft, Pellnat’s original compositions ring with care and attentiveness to detail.
In his latest magnum opus, “في قلبي In My Heart” combines Pellnat’s vocalizations and instrumentation with Moroccan artist Catalus to hammer out an affectionate musical dialogue between East and West.
Sparse accompaniment of shakers and light percussion gives way to the track, immediately setting the tone as atmospheric and contemplative. Catalus’ beautiful Arabic vocals slide in, hauntingly floating above the rhythmic pulse. Her delivery imbues layers of emotion into the lyrics. It celebrates her culture using the native tongue of Catalus in this version of the verses, adding authenticity to the story about Chris’ friend, Amal. You feel the gradual rise in resilience from between the lines between Catalus’ phrasing.
Many aspects make this record so compelling, and yet help bind together the eclectic musical influences on offer: the guitar arrangements. Chris Pellnat’s acoustic playing stays light and finger-picked during the first verse sections to suit the wistful mood Catalus’ vocals bring.
It’s when the chorus swells that the electric guitars make their vibrant entrance. Here, Chris shifts to his electric axe, kicking in with a shimmering multi-rhythmic figure that cascades up and down the neck. This rippling part casts a spell while also building excitement underneath the singer. Cycled verses and choruses build up in gentle intensity, adding more guitars, keyboards, and effects at points to widen out the sonic spectrum.
I would say that “في قلبي In My Heart” is very Western-sounding, even considering the inclusion of Arabic lyrics. Catalus’ vocals fittingly provide the Arabic slant, and the percussion playing within brings in some Middle Eastern melodic elements, but overall, the musical construction of the track is distinctly Western pop/rock in form. On the other hand, I do not view this as a flaw. Rather, the cultural significance and inspiration derive from the blend of cultures in this collaboration.
In a word, “في قلبي In My Heart” is a very inspiring example of artistic collaboration that reaches beyond borders to bring about a universal message: hope. I would readily recommend streaming “في قلبي In My Heart” for yourself. Do not miss the opportunity to be moved by this positive and transcendent message.