Enchanting vocals and soft beats made LOONY’s “First Thing Smokin’” a beautiful song to listen to and engage with.
Kira Huszar, known as LOONY, is a Canadian singer from Scarborough, Toronto. She taught herself how to sing as a kid, went to a rock music summer camp and released her first mixtape in high school. She studied English Literature at McGill University in Montreal. After reading the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ by T.S. Eliot,” she knew she was missing out on making music and pursued her singing career. “First Thing Smokin’” is LOONY’s 14th single. She was long-listed for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize for her 2021 EP soft thing and also was a nominee for a SOCAN Songwriting Prize in 2020 for her single “Some Kinda Love.”
The voice echoing is very beneficial in enhancing the deeper meaning of the song’s lyrics. The instrumentals and the softness of her voice are mesmerizing, making the music enjoyable to listen to. I feel she could have picked a better, more suitable title for the song because it seems like an old country song, which doesn’t appear to match her modernized lyrics.
The guitar, in the beginning, introduces the beat of the song and is an excellent touch at connecting the physical to the digital components. The song’s beats are smooth and consistent, bringing forth a great flow. The voice echoing works well to enhance not only the lyrics but also the vocal quality of the song. The lyrics are somewhat original, but the meaning behind them is not. In the piece, she discusses how she will always be there for the one she loves, indicating, “whenever you need me I’ll come running to you.” Many songs discuss loving their partners, which becomes a very repetitive theme.
Although, her lyrics help make the piece more original, as it is more specific about what she will do to be with them, rather than just stating it. She says, “But even if funds are low, I got a ticket,” indicating that regardless of her financial situation, she will always try her best to see them, which is admirable for anyone in a relationship to look up to. I also enjoy how it doesn’t bash a relationship but has a soft tone and meaningful lyrics. Ultimately, this could be a great slow-dancing song.
I genuinely enjoyed listening to this song. It wasn’t what I initially expected, based on the title, so I was pleasantly surprised by the music. The modernization in the lyrics and the smooth essence of her voice made it pleasant to listen to. I ended up downloading the song as well.
