Pawl releases new album ‘Mystic’

Pawl is a singer-songwriter and arranger who pulls from a vast array of styles from indie pop and folk to jazz, hip hop, ambient and lo-fi. With a track record that includes stints in bands like Northpilot and the giveaway, as well as contributing to projects such as RIFIFI and GOL.life, Pawl has demonstrated a prolific and enduring creative output, spending the last two decades assembling a body of work that feels more like a living experiment than a static catalogue.

Since releasing his first collection of demos back in 2003, Pawl has gradually expanded his sonic universe. Across five fully-produced albums and EPs, and five more demo records, his music has constantly shifted, driven by curiosity rather than commerciality. It’s a restless, shape-shifting journey that speaks more to an obsession with sound and story than any single genre or trend while linking up with fellow artists like DAN E.T. and Landon Wordswell for collaborative works.

Now, with the release of his latest full-length record titled Mystic, Pawl ventures deeper into an existential sphere. Distilling themes of grief, revelation, creativity and the strange, unknowable force we often call transcendence, Mystic leans into ambiguity, offering listeners an immersive experience shaped by mood, movement and mystery.

On the new record, Pawl has enlisted both rock and jazz collaborators to help shape the album’s unique sonic fabric, creating a soundworld that’s fluid and thoroughly original. Pawl’s voice serves as an integral part of the album’s hypnotic pull, delivering lyrics which are at once open-ended yet compelling, often circling around ideas of death, rebirth, the creative process and what it means to hit rock bottom and still make something beautiful from the wreckage.

Opened by “Alright,” Pawl brings in Dan E.T. to deliver a gentle rock-tinged indie pop outing that flows with smooth vocal leads and warm piano backing before bright brass tones usher in a breezy rhythm capped by charming vocalisations. Capturing wisps of power pop and peppered with delicate instrumental strikes, the song serves up a laid back jam that’s upbeat and playful throughout.

“Dreams” follows with a more atmospheric soundscape of shuffling percussion and smooth guitar rhythms as vocal layers present a delightful duet. Propelled by a subtly hurried energy and brimming with poignant lyrical writing, the patter of drums and stretch of warm organ textures results in a misty and catchy outing that’s truly impossible not to love.

On “The Moment,” the swirl of airy tones gives way to a jazz-inflected pop sound carried by bouncy rhythm and charming vocal performance. Featuring Haley Green who adds her own dazzling vocal flair, the colourful sweep of synth arpeggios sees the song develop into an immersive and enthralling soundscape full of blissful melodies and invigorating energy.

Other highlights on the album include songs like “Little Sin” with its lively uptempo rhythms and delicate interplay between vocal lines, capturing a timeless sound dashed with soft psych touches and stitched with memorable melodies from start to finish. “Thirty-Six” pairs transportive, storytelling lyrics with the intricate taps of crisp drums and the mellow textures of drifting guitar arrangement as Pawl’s rich voice delivers alluring leads above.

Closing the record with title track “Mystic,” Pawl presents an enveloping sound of hazy, downtempo alternative pop where silky vocals hover above woozy guitar chords and gentle rhythms. Swelling with the charge of rock energy cut with winding lead guitar licks, Pawl delivers an anthemic and wholly absorbing finale to his superb new album. With a new EP called Water Rising set to drop later this year, Pawl is sure to continue winning over new and existing listeners alike with his unique and entirely engaging musical output.

Listen to MYSTIC below