Margaux Sauvé, better known by her musical alias Ghostly Kisses, has carved a niche in the dream-pop landscape with her hauntingly ethereal vocals and deeply evocative compositions. Signed to Akira Records, the French-Canadian singer-songwriter has gained widespread recognition for her melancholic melodies, most notably with Empty Note, which was featured in the Netflix series The Rain. In 2022, she unveiled her debut full-length album, Heaven, Wait, a sonic journey through themes of longing, introspection, and emotional vulnerability. Produced in collaboration with Tim Bran and Louis-Étienne Santais, the album blends electronic elements with orchestral touches, resulting in a deeply immersive listening experience.
The album begins with Heartbeat, an atmospheric piece that juxtaposes bright, upbeat rhythms with an undercurrent of somber reflection. The track explores themes of loneliness and yearning, using minimal yet poignant lyrics to encapsulate the emotional weight of missing someone. Lines like "Moon and sun, we've just begun to belong" read like a fragmented poem, evoking a sense of distance between two souls. The song’s simplicity underscores its emotional depth, making it a fitting introduction to the album’s overarching themes.
The album’s title track follows, echoing the sonic and emotional qualities of Heartbeat. With its delicate synth layers and warm instrumentation, the song conveys a sense of belonging, as the artist appears to use heaven as a metaphor for a cherished relationship. The plea for patience and clarity in love is wrapped in a composition that feels like an embrace—gentle, reassuring, and filled with unspoken longing.
Switching gears, Don’t Know Why introduces an acoustic-driven arrangement, stripping back the electronic elements for a rawer, more intimate feel. The track carries an air of exhaustion, speaking to the futility of efforts that yield no results. The melancholic lines "Go now, love, don’t wanna talk now" and "There’s nothing but hurt where love has died" create an aching sense of resignation. This song stands out for its stark emotional honesty, compelling listeners to confront feelings of disappointment and heartache.
Breaking from the introspective nature of the previous tracks, Blackbirds introduces a more dynamic and rhythmic pattern. The song features precise percussion, subtle guitar rhythms, and lush string arrangements, creating an expansive soundscape reminiscent of a solitary journey through an endless desert. The inclusion of violin solos adds an ethereal quality, further accentuating Ghostly Kisses’ signature haunting aesthetic.
A delicate piano-driven ballad, Different Kind of Love explores the multiplicity of human connections and the emotional walls we construct to guard ourselves against hurt. Layered with synth harmonies and gentle vocal arrangements, the song carries a sense of quiet contemplation. The vocals feel distant yet intimate, perfectly mirroring the song’s theme of navigating relationships while maintaining emotional barriers.
Opening with whispering choral harmonies and ambient pads, Clay possesses an eerie yet hypnotic allure. The track builds gradually, introducing bass-driven drum and bass rhythms that inject a sense of urgency and movement. The lyrics reflect on life’s uncertainties, questioning different possibilities and choices. The recurring use of Oh’s and ethereal vocal textures enhances the song’s dreamlike quality, making it one of the more sonically layered tracks on the album.
Departing from the heavier emotional weight of the previous songs, Carry Me is an upbeat, groove-infused track with a bright drum pattern and playful percussions. The interplay between bass and offbeat piano chords creates a sense of lightness, offering a moment of release within the album’s emotional arc. The song has a soothing, almost meditative effect, making it a standout as a stress-relief anthem.
Acting as an interlude, Play Dead is a brief yet impactful piano ballad devoid of vocals. Its ephemeral nature gives listeners a moment to breathe, functioning as a reflective pause between the heavier lyrical narratives of the surrounding tracks. Despite its brevity, the track leaves an emotional imprint, demonstrating the power of minimalist composition.
Continuing from the interlude, Green Book maintains a sparse piano-driven arrangement, emphasizing themes of longing and closure. The lyrics "I wanted to be there (for you)" evoke a lingering sense of regret and nostalgia. The song’s melancholic tone, combined with its delicate instrumentation, conjures a dreamlike space where past and present emotions intertwine.
Bringing the album full circle, Your Heart is Gold returns to a drum and bass-infused production, featuring soft percussions and a mellow lo-fi piano. The composition carries a deep emotional weight, yet its structure allows for moments of reprieve. Lines like "Beyond the stars, I wanna reach you, see the sky close before you" provide a fitting conclusion, leaving the listener with a sense of closure and quiet satisfaction.
Heaven, Wait is a masterful showcase of Ghostly Kisses' ability to blend dream-pop, ambient, and electronic elements into a cohesive and emotionally resonant body of work. Each track contributes to a larger narrative of introspection, longing, and quiet resilience. The album is both haunting and comforting, a testament to the artist’s ability to transform melancholy into something beautiful. With its intricate production, evocative lyrics, and signature ghostly vocal delivery, Heaven, Wait is a mesmerizing debut that lingers long after the final note fades.
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