Credit: Eleri Ward
Hailing from Chicago and currently located in New York City, Eleri Ward is a musician and singer-songwriter recognized for her deeply emotional narratives and sound that defies genre boundaries. She initially received recognition for her unique indie-folk acoustic renditions of Stephen Sondheim’s works, which garnered her praise from outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, and American Theatre Magazine. Eleri Ward’s fragile yet impactful vocal performance and creative arrangements provided a new viewpoint on Sondheim’s pieces, solidifying her status as an artist with a distinctive and profoundly reflective musical style.
Although her Sondheim covers helped her reach a wide audience, Eleri Ward has been gradually progressing past acoustic renditions, creating her own unique sound that fuses electro-pop elements with folk-inspired acoustic layers. This latest stage of her artistry is characterized by heavenly tunes, intricate sound layers, and reflective lyrics, drawing listeners into a profoundly immersive and emotional auditory journey.
Released on February 21st, 2025, “Float” is the newest single by Eleri Ward, an artist recognized for her gentle yet deep narrative and otherworldly musical environments. With this song, she continues to create unique music that combines aspects of electro-pop, folk, and ambient sounds. “Float” serves as an impressive demonstration of Eleri’s skill in creating immersive soundscapes that draw listeners into a profoundly introspective journey. The main theme of the song focuses on trust, letting go, and the notion that occasionally being still can result in the most significant insights. With its complex instrumentation, thoughtfully layered vocals, and expressive lyrics, “Float” embodies the spirit of release in a world that perpetually requires progression.
From the initial note, “Float” creates a sense of expansiveness and calm. The piece opens with a minimal but impactful piano theme, its sounds resonating gently as if floating in the air. This introduction is vital for establishing the song’s tone, instantly drawing the listener into a realm where stillness represents not emptiness but a moment for contemplation. Eleri’s voice comes in softly, her airy and personal tone creating the impression that she is sharing her thoughts with the listener intimately. Her tone exhibits a subtle fragility, but beneath it lies a profound strength indicating a deep comprehension of the feelings she expresses. Opting for a simple introduction enables each component to hold significance, guaranteeing that every note and lyric adds to the song’s engaging nature.
As the song advances, ambient noises start to blend into the composition, gently broadening the soundscape without overshadowing the main melody. These atmospheric textures evoke a feeling of weightlessness, harmonizing seamlessly with the song’s title and thematic core. The production is expertly controlled, never overloaded or excessive, permitting the gaps between notes to flourish. This intentional method of sound design reflects the lyrical theme of “Float” by emphasizing that tranquility can be equally impactful as movement. Each layer unfolds with a meditative essence, gently inviting the listener to delve deeper into the song’s emotional heart without aggressively seeking attention.
Eleri Ward’s singing is a key feature of “Float.” Her voice possesses a nearly hypnotic charm, merging effortlessly with the accompanying instruments. In contrast to numerous pop songs that use strong belts or dramatic vocal changes to express feelings, Eleri chooses a subtler method. Her voice rises and falls, at times scarcely louder than a whisper, but consistently echoing with profound emotional intensity. The delicate arrangement of the supporting harmonies creates a choral effect, amplifying the feeling of lightness that pervades the track. This vocal setup is especially impactful in emphasizing the song’s themes, as it builds a close yet vast sound environment where the listener experiences both comfort and the freedom to wander.
Lyrically, “Float” offers a deep reflection on trust and letting go. The initial sentence, “What if I just fell into the pool? Open arms, a doubtless dive to blue”, instantly prepares the ground for the song’s theme of release. The image of plunging into water conveys both liberation and fragility, capturing the dual aspect of yielding. Eleri’s lyrics in the song consistently exhibit a poetic essence, steering clear of direct storytelling and opting for vivid metaphors that enable listeners to project their personal feelings onto the melody. In a society that frequently links stillness with lack of progress, “Float” presents a different viewpoint: that occasionally, the deepest growth happens when we permit ourselves to just exist.
Musically, “Float” strikes a fine balance between natural and electronic components, which further emphasizes the song’s main theme. The gentle throbbing serves as a subtle current, delicately leading the melody ahead without establishing a rigid sense of beat. As the composition progresses, a subtle electronic rhythm arises, creating a heartbeat-like pulse that anchors the otherworldly soundscape. These elements are never overwhelming; rather, they aim to elevate the song’s emotional journey. The production is detailed, where every sound is precisely positioned to enhance the overall feeling of vastness. This focus on detail creates a sound that feels simultaneously light and firmly rooted, a unique and exquisite blend in contemporary music.
One of the most striking features of “Float” is its ability to feel intensely personal while also being universally relatable. Eleri’s reflective lyrics and personal vocal style evoke a feeling of openness that encourages listeners to relate to their own feelings of surrender and faith. Simultaneously, the extensive, limitless quality of the instrumentation enables a broader interpretation, giving the song the essence of a collective emotional landscape instead of just an individual story. She doesn’t merely tell a story; she crafts an atmosphere where listeners can immerse themselves, contemplate, and eventually discover significance in their own manner.
“Float” showcases Eleri Ward’s artistic growth and her talent for creating music that remains in the memory long after the last note disappears. The song’s otherworldly yet relatable nature distinguishes it in her expanding collection of original pieces, highlighting her expertise in songwriting and production. Through the fusion of gentle instrumentation, haunting melodies, and profoundly stirring lyrics, Eleri has crafted a piece that is not only lovely but also deeply impactful. “Float” does not require attention like traditional pop songs often do; rather, it softly encourages the listener to yield to its ambiance, release expectations, and easily meander. By doing this, Eleri Ward has created a musical work that is both stunning and transformative.
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Listen to “Float” by Eleri Ward, and many more in our Pop / Commercial playlist.
