The Band
Album Artwork: Zoe Riches
*It’s a Slytherin World is playing in Gamercat‘s headphones*
Oh hey, didn’t see you there! I was busy rocking out to some amazing Slytherin music! Did you know that I’m 51% Ravenclaw and 49% Slytherin? I love being part of both of these Hogwarts Houses. Sssssssso, let’ssssss get to it, yeah?
This week, I’m reviewing Songs of a Slytherin by Luna (not) Lovegood. The eight-track album was released on October 31, 2020 and was written, recorded, produced, and released all remotely during the pandemic. Luna (not) Lovegood hails from Providence, RI, and writes about life as a Slytherin student whose name happens to be Luna Lovegood.
The Tracks
Songs of a Slytherin opens with Occlumency, a song which begins a cappella, and adds instrumentals halfway through. The vocals are clear and beautiful, with harmonies that immediately catch your attention (and if you know me, you know I love a good harmony section).
We segue into a ukulele track entitled Romilda Vane. I quickly added this to my playlist that I listen to when I need to feel hype. Rap-quick lyrics combined with some good old fashioned vocal belting makes me want to put on heels and dark lipstick – and that’s impressive considering I haven’t worn either of those things in years!
Quidditch is next on the album. This pop love song has a great beat and a catchy chorus. I very much enjoyed the chill vibe this track gave off.
We jump right into another love song with a sound that reminds me a lot of Adele. Horcruxed Heart tells of how to destroy horcruxes to mend a broken heart. Piano paired with strings provide a lovely accompaniment to this stirring vocal performance.
Luna takes us on a trip to Azkaban in the next song. The haunting melody, lyrics, and instrumentals come together for a chilling reminder that not everyone who ends up in Azkaban is a bad person, or even guilty. “No one loves you when you’re in Azkaban.”
I’m in Love (with a Gryffindor) is a wonderful representation of what it is like to be in love with someone from a Hogwarts House that’s famous for disliking your own. I have always enjoyed reading and listening to friendships and relationships between Slytherins and Gryffindors. This song gives off Wizard Love vibes, which is one of my personal favorite songs.
Starting with a far-off echoing melody, The Sorting Song sounds like a phoenix singing. Eric Whitacre-like harmonies below the melody provide a soothing foundation for this song.
The album ends with Slytherin Anthem, which is a great song for anyone who wants to feel Slytherin pride. There is a rap break in which Luna mentions that she doesn’t stand with JK Rowling, which I personally appreciated. Lots of percussion is used that makes me long for my marching band days. This is a wonderful song to clap along to, and a fantastic end to an equally fantastic album.
In Summary
Songs of a Slytherin is available for free download on Luna’s website. If you are a fan of Slytherins, love songs, or great music in general, this album is for you! I could really feel the heart and soul that went into this album. Overall, this album gets 8/8 snaky hisses from me!
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