BY: NICO BACIC

I discovered MUNYA's music while listening to one of my favorite radio stations back home, and I instantly fell in love with her music. Because of this, I was waiting with great anticipation for her sophomore album, Jardin, and she did not disappoint. Jardin is an indie pop record recorded by the Montreal based musician, who does a superb job of mending English and French sounds, sonically and lyrically. 

The album opens with a mystical intro track that draws the listener into a trance. Don't understand the lyrics? No problem. MUNYA does an amazing job conveying emotion through her voice, which is fortunate, as the first three tracks are majority sung in French. The third track, “Nelly”, throws the listener back into the 2010s where indie artists like Mac DeMarco and Mild High Club dominated the scene, with the drum machine humming along. This inspired psychedelic instrumentation stands out further on tracks like “Bizarre Love Triangle” (a cover of the 1986 New Order track) and “Koko”, while the album's hit single, “Un Deux Trois”, sounds like it was taken straight from Daft Punk's “Random Access Memories”. This heavy inspiration from those coming before her doesn't take away from the track's value or replayability by any means, in fact, MUNYA does a good job creating her own lane to experiment with these sounds, rather than harping on the past. 

Even with the clear inspiration taken from the artists before her, MUNYA's best tracks on the album are those in which she creates her own lane. “Sweety”and “Once Again” each provide fun upbeat jams you can't help but tap your foot to. MUNYA's soft voice pairs so well with the reverb heavy and laid back beats it's a wonder how these tracks aren't played on every beach in the world. The album's closer, “Vanilla”, is perhaps her most sonically creative track on the album, with multiple layers and a beat switch to close out an album that leaves you wanting more.

MUNYA's sophomore album, Jardin, skillfully merges English and French influences in an enchanting indie pop experience. While drawing inspiration from past artists, there are still many standout tracks that showcase her unique sound, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating more from this Montreal-based musician. 

Favorite Tracks: “Sweety”, “Once Again”, “Bizarre Love Triangle”, and “Un Deux Trois”

9/10