Persevering and searching for self-acceptance, Reid’s newest album is nothing but a love letter to herself as she reflects on the past whilst estimating the distance she still has to cover. While Preservation was all about finding oneself and moving on, Out of my Province unveils another layer into Nadia Reid’s inner mechanisms to cope with this 28 years old version of herself..
Now, Out of my Province doesn’t wander off the beaten track. It is a continuity, one more step on a path that the New Zealand singer has taken many years ago with Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs. The only difference is that Nadia Reid isn’t the same person she once was, her songs showing a slow but ongoing evolution. Reid adroitly mixes and nuances feelings, proving once again that she is one of the greatest storytellers out there.
As usual, the singer-songwriter will gladly portray heartbreak within a classic folk atmosphere that now defines her, but stopping at the mere surface isn’t what Nadia Reid is about at all. ‘Oh Canada’s“Could you hold me in the darkness? Would you tell the world my name?’” reaches into topics such as self-confidence and abandonment issues, in an album generally dealing with departures and arrivals, figurative or not. With songs like Get the Devil Out, Reid is more vulnerable than ever, and she is not ashamed of showing the cracks. But if the singer’s ethereal voice bewitches and calms, these songs, like many others on this album, aren’t easy to listen to. Out of my Province feels very much like free diving in deep waters, which may require to pause for breath from time to time.
Being her finest work so far with striking lyrics that always cut clean, Out of my Province is to listen to like one applies balm on a burn. It is a demanding yet soothing journey through Nadia Reid’s small joys and tempestuous sorrow, which is worth all the emotional pain and tears that may erupt through the surface.
Haiku Review:
Where the pain might lay,
Deep waters will heal your wounds
Mend her ghosts within
Listen to Nadia Reid on Spotify and Apple Music. Get the latest edition of our print magazine featuring cover star Soccer Mommy, grammy-nominated Black Pumas, Alfie Templeman and more HERE.
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