Jade Turner’s new release “Marion” delivers poignant lyrics and strong vocals with an emotive instrumental backing.
Turner is an award-winning singer-songwriter from the Misipawistik Cree Nation. She has released two albums to date, with a third on the way. This song was released as a single on Oct. 18 ahead of the upcoming album release.
Her music is described as Americana, sitting somewhere between country and pop, with elements pulled from genres like blues and folk.
At first, “Marion” sounds like a mournful love song, but the deeper meaning behind the lyrics relates to addiction. Turner uses the guise of romance to subtly weave in metaphors about struggling with substance abuse. While equally engaging when viewed from either lens, the hidden meaning adds a profundity to the song and reveals a bit more of the singer’s heart, transforming it from something more commonplace into something thought-provoking that holds significant weight. The song details the feeling of witnessing someone you care about struggle with addiction. This theme comes into play not only in the lyrics, but also in the instrumentation which creates an atmosphere that feels fraught with tension.
The melody manages to be both haunting and catchy, with a doleful tune that sticks in your head and gets you tapping your feet along to the beat. It has a very strong musical hook, drawing listeners in from the first chord which hits after a dramatic build-up. The backing instrumentation is light and subtle at times, and comes in heavy at others – this makes the song feel very dynamic overall, and artfully complements the vocal line.
Turner’s powerful voice gives the song an airy yet grounded feel. Her sustained notes feel effortless and she adds a bit of slide to some notes, contributing a soulful country-blues feel to the track. She also varies the rhythm of repeated lines, which makes the song feel less drawn out and keeps the momentum moving forward.
Overall, the song delivers a personal and unique perspective that draws listeners in with well-crafted musical elements. Fans can look forward to Turner’s third album release which is set to winter 2025.