Gal Musette is establishing herself in the baroque-pop music scene with her powerful and distinctive voice. In her sophomore album, Pendulum, she takes a deep, personal, and intimate dive into the conflicted emotions of life, delivering 11 heartfelt tracks. “Performing and producing these songs in the studio was the most cathartic experience I have ever had as a musician,” she shares. “I think Jon [O’Brien, who produced the album] and I were both making a statement to ourselves that we needed change, and we were inspired by the lack of limitations we gave ourselves when approaching this record,” she continues.

The concept fell into place naturally as the duo tapped into that wavelength. “Jon had just opened his studio and was, in a sense, ‘starting over’ in a new space. This brought a sense of freshness to his production, and I believe that experimentation made a huge impact on the creative flow of this record,” Musette shares. Sonically, Pendulum is a bold statement filled with synths, loops, layered drums and percussion, orchestration, and harmonies, all while distinctly embodying a stylistic influence of music production from the 50s and 60s.

Every detail of this experience was carefully planned, as she explains that the order of the record puts these songs in opposition, like the swinging of a pendulum — hence the album title — taking listeners on a song-to-song journey with sharp detours between these two mental states. “The lyrical content of “Into the Blue,” “Standstill,” “Shower song,” and “Moon Chair” portrays the part of me that is hustling to break out of my downward spiral of anxiety. Feeling trapped, out of control, lying to myself, but treading water instead of sinking or giving up. There is a light at the end of the tunnel in these songs,” she adds. “Conversely, in “Plateau,” “Pendulum,” “Moment,” and “Je vois le ciel,” there is a lack of hope, an indulgence into depression, and acceptance of the monotony, isolation, and lack of control.”

Listen to the album…