Djuphjärtad (Swedish for “deep-hearted”) is a beautifully restrained collaborative EP from Swedish singer Emma Luciaand ambient project Ship Says Om (Jenny Gillespie Mason). Born out of a creative friendship in Berkeley, California, the project began when Lucia invited Mason to reimagine her songs through a more atmospheric and exploratory lens.
The EP flows between two distinct yet interconnected moods. On one side are intimate, emotionally rich songs of romantic anticipation—“Keep Me” and “Feel Your Eyes.” On the other, more meditative, elemental pieces emerge, including the Swedish-language “Ditt Hjärta” and the wordless “Water Prayer.”
Mason’s production is deeply rooted in the natural world, incorporating found sounds like birdsong, wind, thunder, rustling trees, and the rhythmic motion of oars cutting through water. These organic textures are layered with ambient synths, acoustic guitar, piano, and subtle percussion, creating a soundscape that feels both immersive and quietly expansive.
The result is a seamless fusion of Lucia’s luminous, expressive vocals and Ship Says Om’s textured, environmental production. Djuphjärtad evokes the stillness of forests and lakes while gently tracing the emotional thresholds of new love. Sonically, it sits somewhere between experimental ambient and modern composition, echoing the spirit of artists such as Stina Nordenstam, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Philip Glass, and The Books.
Want to see a full article? Read it on the New Music Review website