Donna Missal’s New Ethereal Sound Takes Flight
By Sara O’Connell
Donna Missal has continued to add to her discography with the new single “(to me) your face is love”. Another collaboration with producer Sega Bodega, this dreamy club song is a love letter to her beloved’s being. Missal details in her poetic lyrics how she’s put at ease by their mere presence, continuing to evolve towards an electronic, club-style. Her single before this, “sex is good (but have you tried)” was the first of her singles to stray from her influences of Linda Ronstadt and Willie Nelson.
For myself and other artists, Missal is a “musician's musician”. Coming from a rich musical background, Missal’s father and grandmother were both singer-songwriters in their heyday, and the journey of her discography shows that. I got into Missal because of her torch songs and her Janis Joplin-Esque voice. Her gritty take on R&B and old-school rock were powerful, while in her recent releases, her vocals are much more demure. Still, the lyrical power is definitely there, with lyrics like “To me, your face is love/ And I am overcome/ Gasping for your presence/ Breath from my lungs” and “I’d give all earthly possessions/ To keep you in my heart”, she brings you down to the very depths of her feelings, fleshing them out with each line.
When Missal first started to pivot in style I wasn’t thrilled. Her first foray into a new style, “sex is good (but have you tried)”, was catchy with a phenomenal message of self-love but not my favorite. It seemed dull in comparison to her earlier works, which were filled with so much life. It wasn’t until I heard this song that my shaky faith had been restored. The quality of the production in her music has grown exponentially and continues to do so with each release.
After many listens, I’ve discovered my favorite part is the bridge of the song. It reminds me of a song that would be featured on SKINS, with a bunch of underage British kids dancing at a rave and surrendering themselves to their existential crisis’, (or the drugs, depending on why you watch SKINS). It’s reminiscent of something out of The Postal Service’s Give Up album, with its fast-paced drums and low pounding bass, giving a sense of acute danger.
Missal continues to flaunt her versatility in this track. If you’ve never heard of Donna Missal before this article and you’re not sure where to start, I say just jump in. If you like artists with creative vision, dynamic vocal technique, and raw talent, then she is your girl. And if you’re worried this might not be the song for you I’ve got good news. She’s already got two full-length albums out that are a blend of different styles. Either way, I’m sure you’ll be impressed by the range of what she can give.