Out of profound adversity, Chicago’s Gia Margaret crafted “Mia Gargaret,” a testament to the restorative power of sound. Following the critical success of her 2018 debut, an unexpected illness robbed Margaret of her voice, forcing a creative detour that led to her largely instrumental 2020 album, a breathtaking work of ambient introspection and a document of profound healing.
Unable to sing for nearly half a year, Margaret turned to her synthesizer for solace. The resulting compositions served as a form of self-healing, a way for her to hold onto her identity as a musician when her primary instrument was silenced. The album she created is an immersive journey built from spare, evocative layers of synthesizer, piano, and field recordings. Sounds of lake waves, crackling fires, and her own footsteps blend into a profoundly personal soundscape.
“Mia Gargaret” documents this period of healing with striking intimacy. Album opener “apathy” features a recording of her actual vocal therapy exercises, while “body” incorporates a comforting lecture from philosopher Alan Watts, a constant source of perspective for the artist. These elements, woven into the music, transform the record into a narrative of recovery.
The album closes with “lesson,” the only song to feature Margaret’s recovered singing voice, offering a hopeful glimpse of the path forward. More than just a placeholder, “Mia Gargaret” stands as a gorgeous, meditative work that showcases Margaret’s profound talents as a composer and producer, proving that even in silence, music finds a way to speak volumes.
Bandcamp: https://giamargaret.bandcamp.com/album/mia-gargaret
