Electronic/Review Kestrel - Apricot Sunshine

Kestrel is the stage name of Isle of Man-based artist, songwriter, and performer Naomi Haworth, who crafts soaring, synth-rich pop songs and heartfelt melodies with a retro-futuristic edge. Blending the shimmering textures of Nu-Disco and Synthwave with the emotive pop storytelling, Kestrel’s sound is cinematic, melodic, and full of light—like summer nostalgia bottled in sound.

Kestrel creates a rich aural dreamscape with "Apricot Sunshine," obfuscating the distinction between imagination and reminiscence. Inspired by Miami in the 1980s—not as a physical location, but as a vague, subconscious recollection—the song develops like a clear-headed reverie, glistening with vintage style and a hint of the future. It pays homage to a past time while also rethinking it from a modern perspective.

The song's sound is a masterful blend of synthwave and nu-disco, supported by a throbbing electronic groove and encased in expressive, upbeat melodies all around. The song's progression demonstrates Kestrel's attention to detail, beginning with gloomy, dark-tinged riffs and progressively progressing into more upbeat, major-key chord changes that reflect the emotional arc of desire and rediscovery. Warmth emanates from the layered synths, and a danceable, hypnotic rhythm is maintained by the bassline.

The vocals of "Apricot Sunshine" are full of texture. The wispy vocal layers contribute to the track's surreal ambiance by resonating like faraway recollections. The narrative is more visceral than verbal; it conveys a feeling of inclusion in a place you have never visited or may have known in a past life. Beneath the neon glow is a melancholic undercurrent that gives the song a lively yet introspective feel.

Ultimately, "Apricot Sunshine" is a masterfully composed work of musical storytelling that feels both completely unique and reminiscent of a parallel past. This exceptional release demonstrates Kestrel's mastery of mood and memory.