Hohnen Ford grapples with grief in ‘I Wish I Had A God’.
Ahead of her forthcoming EP, Hohnen Ford delivers a devastatingly raw and personal reflection on bereavement in new single ‘I Wish I Had A God’. Navigating the tumultuous avenues of grief is no easy feat, but newcomer Hohnen Ford proves her profound musical talent to be an outlet for exploring this subject in an intimate and conscientious manner throughout her latest release.
Whilst Ford’s vocal style exhibits inspiration from the likes of Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell, and Nick Drake, her melodic offerings in this single flirt between jazz, soul, and folk all of which work seamlessly against the soothing chimes of an accompanying piano. It’s impossible not to become completely consumed by the delicate sonic landscape Ford creates, as her lyrics wrestle with the tragic experience of losing a very close friend. Despite its heavy nature, ‘I Wish I Had A God’ sees Ford handle this topic with a natural emotional maturity way beyond her years.
Speaking openly on the new single, Ford states: “‘I Wish I Had a God’ emerged from the depths of grief, as an attempt to make sense of losing one of my best friends last year. Songwriting can be a vessel for grappling with the ineffable. This is the most painful song I’ve ever written, and has also been a bittersweet gift to watch it resonate with so many as I’ve performed it live over the last year. Our shared human experience of grief teaches us so much.”
It certainly goes without saying that ‘I Wish I Had A God’, and other tracks from Ford’s EP of the same name, bear the seeds of one of North London’s most enthralling new artists. Fans of Holly Humberstone, Tom Odel, and Nilüfer Yanya should definitely jump on the imminent hype surrounding Ford, and keep their ears open for the mesmerising material she has to offer. For even this early into her career, the ability to hold listeners captive to her sound from the very first note is a skill that Ford seems to have already mastered, and the rest of her repertoire waiting to be released is no exception.
Having already supported the likes of Lucy Rose and Matt Maltese, it won’t be long until Hohnen Ford is a household name.