Selkie - Heartspeak (Self Release) [Ambient Pop]

Selkie is a Scottish born nomad who is currently based in Kyoto, Japan. She made a few moves in 2021 releasing three great singles, but then like the Olympics disappeared for four years, resurfacing in 2025 with this gold medal comeback, showcasing her singularity, voice, guitar and production talents. What is more remarkable is that it also celebrates the return of her singing ability after a year of vocal loss, not to mention heralding a forthcoming EP scheduled for early 2026.

Some of the best music has its roots in adversity, and "Heartspeak" is rooted in two of the sort of life experiences that you look back on and breathe a sigh of relief when remembering how they could have gone badly wrong; I've certainly got a few of those. The first was an episode where she floated well away, and too far from comfort, from the coast at night in a bioluminescent plankton lit ocean with no idea what was below her. The other was an enforced mountain night hike when already exhausted through a bear populated forest. Luckily the music gods were looking down on her favourably on both occasions, pulling unseen universal strings to make sure she stayed safe and could continue her creative mission.

"Heartspeak" eases into existence with a bubbling, twinkling synth line that respectfully keeps its distance, elevating rather than distracting from Selkie's low gravity vocal that shortly follows, and which charts a true and pure course over the beautifully crafted sonic landscape, which is a thing of contemporary ambient wonder; the sonic details, Arp and piano aside, apparently made from manipulating her voice by means of studio trickery. It's a deeply personal song, both fragile and powerful, that bares Selkie's soul for all to see and the fact that is accompanied by production that would stand on its own two instrumental legs really marks her out as a talent, and the EP as one to look out for.

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Playlist Companion

Find Selki in the Ambient Pop Playlist.