By Julia Terhaerdt

On June 5, Bruno Major self-released To Let A Good Thing Die, his second album after A Song For Every Moon in 2017. I spent the whole day spinning it. In the car on the way back from the beach, my dad and I sat in the car listening to the track “Regent's Park” with the windows down and the warm summer air breezing through. My dad, swaying his head slowly to the song, said, “I'm not complaining, I love it, but isn't this what older people listen to?” 

This sat with me for a while. I pondered, what made this music appealing to generations both younger and older? Is it the lyrics? The sound? I came to the conclusion that this is an outdated way of thinking about categorizing music. All genres of music can be appreciated by all ages, all it takes is for the listener to see something they resonate with in the songs. This is something that Bruno Major does well. His soothing melodies, intimate lyrics and fusion of genres create something timeless. On top of this, his words also beg introspective questions about love, life and perspective that I feel as if many people can relate to.

Within his songs up until now I noticed his lack of pronouns which I always admired because, to me, it showed care for inclusivity that most artists tend to overlook. I have always found this an interesting way to allow the listener, no matter who they are, to relate to and see themselves within the lyrics. However, when I saw the song “She Chose Me,” I was slightly confused as to why he had all of a sudden now decided to change this, suddenly not only placing pronouns in the lyrics but in the title itself. With a little bit of digging, I found that he directly addressed this question in an interview stating that, “The reason that there were pronouns in this song is cause I didn't write the song. That is a Randy Newman song. I don't actually think I've ever used a pronoun in one of my songs. This has been a very conscious decision. I was actually quite inspired by Sam Smith for that reason.” While I was disappointed that this song broke his streak of inclusivity, I applaud his conscious decision to make his songs relatable to someone of any sexuality or gender. This is not something many artists think about when writing music.

I truly loved every song on this album. While I had heard many of them prior to the release because they were dropped as singles, hearing them in the album together with the addition of a few new songs created a beautiful story. I felt as if the songs all built upon each other, taking you through the feelings of love. You love the small things, you feel deeply and then you might even hurt. His last song titled, “To Let A Good Thing Die,” brings some realism in and was the perfect way to end the album. He speaks of losing someone you love and how sometimes it doesn't last forever even if you wish it will. 

Overall, this new album, makes me want to lie in a field looking at the clouds all day. With his effort towards inclusivity and timeless sound and lyrics, this album is one that most everyone can enjoy this summer. Staying true to his sound, it matches perfectly with his first album A Song For Every Moon and it is safe to say that Bruno Major, while he was dropped from his label, is thriving as an independent artist. This album truly is “The Most Beautiful Thing.”