With all the gravitas of a Nick Cave duet, Joy Seroussi struck every nerve in the release of Sleepless Lullaby. The folk-turned-pop-rock ballad excels at broadsiding you while you’re caught off-guard, especially when you hear the opening lyric, “I’m floating like an angel, yeah feeling like a creep” – a line that burrows deep under the skin. In this dark folk dream, religious iconography lingers and rings against post-punk tinged guitars, conjuring an atmosphere where influences such as Cohen are transcended altogether.
The real magic of Sleepless Lullaby is how it creates a vignette of duality – never settling for the knee-jerk pull towards shadows, but embracing the light and darkness that lives within us all. Rather than posturing, the duo focus on the nuanced interplay of their influences and their own lived experiences, allowing the track to become a tour de gothic force that feels vital and unforced.
Drawing from the lived stories of Joy Seroussi – a father of three who splits his life between Tel Aviv and Plomari, only recently stepping into songwriting after decades of music as a listener and dancer – the track wears its heart and wisdom on its sleeve. Since 2022, Seroussi has poured his life’s ups and downs into his music, pulling inspiration from legends like Dylan, Cohen, Lennon, Cat Stevens, and Nick Cave. With five recordings to his name, his craft is both a form of self-therapy and a storytelling vessel, delivered in a language and style that refuses to play for mainstream affection but instead seeks resonance with those who understand the need for catharsis.
Sleepless Lullaby is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
No Comments