Reviews
Featured Review - David Rothermich
“In an era when so much music thrusts itself upon us with a hard-driving beat, aggressive lyrics, and vapid messaging, Sapphire Khol’s debut album What You Couldn’t See Before draws gently alongside us, sharing a reflective journey of life through music. Rather than intruding with a frenetic and domineering sound, the album arrives like a soundtrack for our own existence. It beckons softly and offers impressions that give the listener space to notice what they may not have seen before.
The music is a soothing passage into the ethereal. Sapphire’s acoustic guitar provides the foundation, enriched by harmonies featuring the flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, cello, violin, piano, and even the occasional glockenspiel. These textures flow through the songs with gentle vividness. The production gives the music fullness, yet remains subtle and graceful, adding flavor without overwhelming the listener.
Sapphire’s lyrics are interpretive, prophetic, and philosophical. But they leave room for personal meaning, inviting us to have our own relationship to the music. The lyrics do not impose themselves or dictate interpretation. Instead, they invite the listener into a shared, contemplative experience, permitting us to interpretively participate in the lyrical story.”
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The track Like the Wind harkens back to Dylan’s Blowing in the Wind, but Sapphire doesn’t vex us with imponderable questions. Instead, she gazes wistfully at life itself. Yet one might just as easily interpret “the wind” as a past relationship that slipped away from us. The intrigue of the lyrics lies in that openness: there is room for the listener to choose the meaning. The song itself is like the wind—something intangible, but felt even though we can’t quite grasp it. The music, like the title implies, has a sweeping feel like the wind.
On My Way Out is a story of endurance, but it is told in a way that is transferable to anyone who has encountered struggle in their life, who has faced scarcity, and who, as Sapphire phrases it, has “faced God” and “faced the devil.” It embraces the realities of loss and uncertainty with the potential for triumphs of growth and resilience in lines like, “the less you have, the easier to see, differently.” Violin and cello solos soar cathartically above the tension described in the lyrics.
In Tightrope, it’s unclear whether the song addresses a love partner, or God, or the inner self. The choice belongs to the listener. But whichever it is, the path is narrow… a tightrope. The music is particularly ethereal—gentle, patient, and warm—with guitar, piano, flute and other blended textures forming a tender sonic hand to the tightrope walker. The angst of the song’s subject is thereby eased with the music creating a path to resolution when “a silver light shines through from my heart to you.”
The final track, Fading into the Wind, is where the album title is derived. Although still gentle, it carries a sharper edge than the previous tracks, heard in Sapphire’s unique finger-picking guitar style, more assertive rhythm, and reprimanding lyrics. Yet resolution emerges in the refrain: “When happy ever after has ended, then maybe once upon a time can begin.” Here, there is a clear message that letting go of an unrequited fantasy becomes the beginning of a new inward journey “to see what you couldn’t see before.”
For listeners ready for music that isn’t hard-driving, aggressive, or vapid, Sapphire Khol’s debut album may indeed help you see—and hear—what you couldn’t before.
Featured Review - Jack Gallagher
“Sapphire Khol’s What You Couldn't See Before is a melodic, rhythmic, and enlightening collection defined by a soulful, mellifluous timbre. It beautifully expands the listener's awareness while welcoming a deep sense of mindfulness and bliss.
The album opens with Face the Music, a touching, heartfelt track featuring Sapphire on vocals and guitar, Patrick LePelch on flute, and Jessie Ivry on cello. The song immediately connects with the soul as Sapphire sings: "Let your heart strings lead the way, Face the Music, The music of today, So your heart can keep the beat, Face the music, Let the music guide your feet."
Something Beautiful perfectly summarizes the album's sonic landscape, blending opening guitars, a striking piano solo, and ethereal pedal steel guitar with rich vocal interludes. This flows into the crowd favorite, "Runaway Train," which features prominent, beautiful flute work from Patrick and violin from Jari. Patrick also steps ahead as a fine producer on this album, expertly selecting the most appropriate artists and seamlessly blending their talents at their absolute finest.”
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In Roots, Sapphire communes closely with nature, singing and playing a grounded melody: "I’m just waiting for my Roots to grow, And I feel like running out the door, But I think I found some decent soil, So I’ll just wait until my roots are grown." Next, the album takes us to a canyon setting with Mountain Road, a brilliant, mythical story brought to life by Sapphire's captivating singing.
The Middle opens the journey by venturing into the Bardo, grounding us completely in the present moment. It flows gracefully into Like the Wind, where a blend of flute and guitar elevates the lyrical atmosphere: "It came like the wind." Enhanced by a rich chorus and harmonica, the song offers a profound reminder: "But if you want to catch the wind, Be the flow, If you want to get caught up, Just let go, And let it blow!"
The deep connection to nature deepens in Corner of the River, an immersive track where the trees seem to sing alongside a beautiful solo flute, sharing the gentle wisdom: "But if you're sitting real still, And your heart is pure, They sparkle on the edge of the breeze..." Finally, Curious brings the journey to a close, reuniting vocals, guitar, and flute to deliver one last piece of core truth: "You've got to empty out, To breathe the life force."
This strong artistic connectivity carries directly into On My Way Out. Backed collectively by Jessie, Patrick, and Jari Suomalainen on violin, Sapphire delivers a powerful, stripped-down performance, singing: "'Cause the less you have, the easier it is to see, differently... I went all in, Stripped down to my naked skin, Tippin' my hat, On my way out."
An intimate relationship with all facets of the earth continues on Tightrope, showcasing Sapphire's incredible depth as both a writer and a vocalist. Listeners are then welcomed into Fading Into the Wind, a captivating journey of self-discovery that has already struck a chord with a massive audience. The evocative lyrics paint a picture of transformation:
"But you learned to read the sky, And it opened your eyes. When happy ever after has ended, Then maybe once upon a time can begin, A new day starts when the old one is still somewhere fading, Fading into the wind. With eyes opened wide, You journey inside, To see what you couldn't see before, All of the while, Transforming into light, Until you spread your wings and fly."
Sapphire has lived, observed and shared her voluptuous vision of life with her body, mind, heart and most beautiful voice, on display throughout this wonderful album.
“The songs are so good, and the tracks, especially Sapphire, sound great! Wonderful record and excellent recording and mixing. Thanks for including me on this record. This music deserves to be heard!”
Steve Savage,
Grammy nominated producer/ mastering engineer
“What a luminous and amazing album you’ve created! It was a total joy to hear you blossom as you host us with your musical “biography”. Loved it! Congratulations!”
Jaya Godwin
“Recently I had the rare opportunity to hear pre-release recordings of 12 original songs by songwriter, musician (guitar), and vocalist, Sapphire Khol. All but one were new to me. I have heard Sapphire solo and harmonize most Friday nights with Musical Feast for the past 2 years or so, but this recording is very different- very special. With Sapphire’s guitar leading and sometimes accompanied by flute (Patrick LePelch) and violin (Jari Suomalainen) and others, the music feels soft, yet purposeful- almost haunting- as it leads you. The lyrics have a message and the range of Sapphire’s vocal delivery is incredible to say the least. Very, very beautiful.”
Kurt
“Listen to this album beginning-to-end in a single sitting as I first heard it—it is a unified expression of a special woman’s discovery journey with the pieces of the puzzle all falling into place on the final chord!”
Bob K.
“I deeply admire what Sapphire has accomplished with these songs from her personal life experiences. They represent over ten years of her life, and the journey hasn't been an easy one. The lyrics reflect many of the events she went through, how she dealt with them, and how she evolved from those moments to the person she has become. Those lyrics are just one part. It's the music she has created to go with them that really gets you: the melodies and her voice are outstanding, as you will see. My personal favorite is Something Beautiful, but there are many more. I hope you enjoy listening to Sapphire's wonderful creations.”