Laura Hickli (Mohkínstsis/Calgary) is an internationally touring baroque pop songstress known for her dreamy, tightly-arranged soundscapes, exquisite vocals, evocative lyrics and her emotionally powerful performances. A classically trained pianist and member in several award-winning art-rock/post-punk bands including ‘36?’, Hickli’s latest material has struck a spellbinding balance of spectral intimacy and bombast explosivity. Described as ‘indomitable,’ Laura Hickli will shatter any expectations of the way a piano should be played, a voice should be lifted, or a life should be lived.
Laura Hickli on Unholy Power
U N H O L Y P O W E R
Unholy Power is about finding deeper and more authentic strength within myself by embracing chaos and mortality over depending on the stability and invincibility of being close with an all-knowing deity. Unholy Power is about shedding my religious skin, and with that losing what used to be my moral guide, life rulebook and 24 hour go-to therapist. It’s about realizing that the whole time I was bringing my burdens to the Lord, what I was actually doing was praying to myself… critically analyzing my way through issues, manifesting healing, and letting go of what I can’t control.
Alt intro 1. Unholy Power is about choosing to believe in chaos and mortality over the stability and invincibility of an all-knowing deity, and finding a deeper and more authentic strength within myself in the process.
Alt intro 2. Unholy Power is about finding deeper and more authentic strength in myself by embracing chaos and mortality than I had ever felt when I depended on the stability and invincibility of being close with an all-knowing superhero deity.
‘Unholy Power’ enters with a distinct difference in flavour than the first half of the record, with crystal clear pop vocal production over crisp layered electric guitars, piano, synths, and wind. Hickli’s strong vocals truthfully pave the way in this structured piece, with vocal responses that lift and shift the continuously moving instrumentation with subtle elements of jazz fusion. Suddenly, everything stops in a halting collapse. Pure silence holds the listener in prolonged anticipation before Hickli delivers with a huge wall of sound, stacked harmonies, triumphantly resounding in a chorus which teeters two juxtaposing moods. Clocking in under 3 minutes, this song then circles back and gives it all one more time, cementing an unholy amount of strength in this well-crafted piece as Hickli finds a deep and authentic superpower within herself by giving up control and old beliefs.
Unholy Power
Lyrics
Half the time I don’t know if I’m happy.
Other times, I don’t feel a thing.
And I wonder if there’s a reason.
I really hope it means something.
I used to pray to God when I felt lonely.
I swear I could tell him anything.
Looking endlessly for answers…
Proving myself wrong and right.
Is there a point in trying so hard?
I’m tugging at the roots of my tired hair.
Tighten my grip on this old dream…
But I don’t have a clue what’s happening.
I used to think that I was something special,
and used my charm like some unholy power.
But now I see I’m made of human.
And now I am stronger than before.
There is a point to trying so hard!
I focus on the reasons why I care.
Loosen my grip on this old dream…
I don’t always need to know what’s happening.