Single review ·
SCARLETT FAGAN TURNS RECOVERY INTO A RETRO-MODERN SOUL STATEMENT ON “ARISE.”
The Bristol singer moves from a gloomy cloud toward freedom and self-belief without losing the restraint that gives the record its weight.
Scarlett Fagan’s “Arise” treats recovery as a gradual act. The record begins in emotional heaviness, then lets its message of freedom and self-belief unfold through a rich, expressive lead vocal.
The Bristol singer keeps the performance conversational in the verses before lifting into the hook. That movement gives the song a retro soul foundation without turning it into imitation.
Restraint makes the lift matter
A bass-led groove, restrained keys, drums and guitar leave enough room for Fagan’s phrasing to remain the emotional center. When the layered “Arise” passage arrives, it feels earned because the arrangement has not spent every idea too early.
The line “I’m here to grow, can’t ignore my glow” captures the record’s purpose in miniature. A larger final chorus, perhaps with added harmony or brass, could push the ending higher while preserving the song’s measured build.
A 45 with a clear visual language
“Arise” appears on the Awaken b/w Arise 7-inch released through Unique Soul Records. Its black-and-white presentation matches the music’s balance of classic soul vocabulary and present-tense reflection. Fagan’s background in Bristol soul and her work with The Hawkmen give the release context, but this record stands on its own emotional arc.