Having seen Wild Hum perform live it is utterly clear that there is something of substance in their lyrics, their connection, and their sound. With Adrian Avalos on guitar and percussion, April Faith-Slaker on cello, and Hannah Rooth on lead vocals, this trio feels truly grounded in their appreciation for music, their desire to use songs as a way to tell a story, and their ability to connect with their audience on a deeply personal level.
The first time I saw Wild Hum perform live I was truly transported. In the living room of a cozy house, Wild Hum performed ‘Divorce in the Water,’ ‘Burn Out,’ ‘Quietness,’ as well as other all-original songs. Words cannot do Hannah justice, as she sings with raw emotion and vulnerability, with pain and love through the human experience as the driving force behind each note. Her ability to control her voice and sound while telling such intimate stories through her music is a wonder in and of itself.
‘Divorce in the Water’ unpacks a very difficult situation that Hannah had to navigate, one that most people would shy away from writing about, let alone performing. This is what makes Hannah a true artist. She turns her pain, her experiences, her deepest thoughts, doubts, and feelings into living, breathing music. This sound is an entity all it’s own, capable of bringing people together, and evoking another time and place. What pulls it into vivid waking life is April’s chilling cello and Adrian’s grounding guitar.
We can all relate to relationship troubles, whether break ups, divorces, or love that never quite came to be, this song touches on a feeling that is universal- mourning a relationship that was once dear and monumental. This song encapsulates that feeling of pure vulnerability that only occurs during this time of immense loss and heartbreak. Like an insect in amber, it is timeless, chilling and transporting. I feel brought back to my first true heartbreak, what it felt like to lose that person that became your other half, your best friend. But as Hannah says so poetically “I would never make you stay.” Isn’t that true love, after all? Letting your love leave when you know the love you had has no longer become enough to keep the relationship afloat. That ebb and flow, as waves in the sea, the love coming and going is captured beautifully, and I feel like a boat lost at sea with chills going down my spine as the wind picks up and what once was is lost forever. All that is brought to life through this one song, and you can feel that pull, that each member in the audience has to their own experiences of love and loss. Each transported to a different time in their life, yet so present in the moment as Hannah belts out each powerful word.
‘Burn Out’ is another chilling song about losing someone, witnessing the fire you once had going out, and watching them leave. This song, like all the rest is so vulnerable and honest, “I wouldn’t want someone who leaves like you.” It is such a simple statement and yet so powerful in its truth. I promise you’ll get chills listening to Hannah sing her heart out. Wild Hum is full of magic, honesty, and vulnerability and is an expression of raw human experience.
Personified by Hannah Rooth, April Faith Slaker, and Adrian Avalos, this band is something to watch out for as they continue their journey. They’ll remind you that you’re not alone in your hardships, and that the world is vast and full of depth, and beautiful souls, and that you yourself, are one of them.
Danielle O'Sullivan
March 17, 2019
