NEW MUSIC: ELLA HENDERSON | BRAVE (ACOUSTIC VERSION)

British singer & songwriter Ella Henderson released an acoustic version of her latest single, “Brave.” The track is an anthem about staying vital for the people in your life you care most about. In the context of the music video, this person is a child. Still, Henderson purposefully navigates the waters of the song to avoid mentioning precisely what kind of relationship this is about. This keeps it as ambiguous as it needs to be to reach a broad audience, and the song works better for it. Sonically, “Brave” takes direction from modern pop anthems to create something that gives hope to those who need it. The song centers around a piano, and the beat is minimalist to allow the lyrics to be the primary focus of the listener. The melodies are infectious for two main reasons: one, of course, is to make the song itself memorable, but two is to keep the lyrics' message inside a listener’s head long after the song is over. In the lyrics, “Brave” is written as powerfully as it needs to be. The aforementioned purposeful ambiguity works to Henderson’s advantage, and the way she wrote this to be both ambiguous and meaningful is incredible. It manages to be specific and universal simultaneously, which is hard to do. Overall, Ella Henderson’s “Brave” is a strong pop ballad about remaining brave in the face of adversity for those around you who may need it.