Finding comfort with Melt Away 

Bhavana Hari 

Rap Music Journalist 

Since their start in 2016, Jadu Heart has always taken a quieter approach to fame.  The British Duo, consisting of Alex Headford and Diva Jefferey, has built an extremely loyal fan base. Their music feels very personal due to how immersive the experience is while listening to them. Although not immediate, the slow- building tone within their voices draws the listener in, as if they are personally serenading you in the comfort of your room. This is very prominent in their debut album, Melt Away, released in 2019, which truly captures the philosophy of “late-at-night” pondering. The album blends indie rock, dreamy pop, and some alternative/electronic elements, inviting the listener to reflect and drift into a world that explores healing and nostalgia. 

Melt Away truly offers a memorable experience for the listener with patience. Each song in the album is precisely placed to tell a story from beginning to end. The album explores the themes of grieving relationships and identities and ultimately choosing to heal.  The main themes in this album still resonate many years later, which is why they have developed such a deep fanbase. Whether you are dealing with heartbreak, immense change, an identity crisis, or even just an overwhelming number of thoughts, Melt Away by Jadu Heart offers comfort through all the uncertainty.   

A New Sound 

Before Jadu Heart created Melt Away, they had already established a reputation for being mysterious. Originally, Headford and Jeffrey performed wearing masks, which allowed the music to speak for itself. This further emphasized that the quality of sound was more important to the artists than the attention it attracted. As they gained more traction, their sound became more personal rather than mysterious as their songwriting became more specific. With lyrics like “You’ve been cold again, darling /I’m under your spell, you know” [Wander life 0:32] for moments of yearning and many more, the duo truly grasped the attention of listeners everywhere. 

All throughout the album Melt Away, you can easily hear how the evolution of healing takes place. The production itself feels very dreamlike with soft guitar, percussion, and synthesizers. Instead of intense bass drops and oversized choruses, the songs build the emotions of the listener through patience and persistence. As the album progresses, you can see how Alex Headford’s vocals and Diva Jeffreys’ harmonies complement each other and add warmth to each track. This album follows a consistent sound, and each song adds to the depth of the overall mood it provides. It doesn’t feel like individual songs are competing for the listener’s attention but rather telling a story that adds to it. The consistency in this album adds to why it resonates so many years later.    

“Forgotten Ghosts” 

Out of every song on this album, the one that stands out the most is “Forgotten Ghosts.” It captures everything the whole album is trying to portray. With lyrics like “Well it’s been so long since last I saw you / baby I adore you” [Forgotten Ghosts 0:24] and “And we spend the evening/interweaving, looking deep inside the pain” [Forgotten Ghosts 2:17]  it shows the feeling of yearning and debating nostalgia with the truth. The song opens with a gentle strumming instrumentation pattern before slowly enhancing the guitar and soft, nostalgic vocals. 

This song is truly open for interpretation, which makes it so much more memorable. You can listen to the song in any situation and connect it to many memories since the lyrics are universally applicable. This allows more listeners to connect it to their own personal experiences. Whether you are going through a breakup and reflecting on lost relationships or experiencing growing pains, this song feels deeply personal without being too obvious. 

This track defines the entire album because every time I listen to Melt Away, I immediately return to this song. It captures the exact atmosphere that Jadu Heart creates throughout the whole story. The production feels deeply intimate due to the soft vocals and gentle instruments that complement each other rather than overpower. I genuinely feel like I attach a new meaning to it every time I listen to it. 

Beyond Forgotten Ghosts 

Although Melt Away is an enjoyable experience in its entirety, another song that deserves attention on that album is “Harry Brompton’s Ice Tea”. It does serve as a contrast to the sound of Forgotten Ghosts with a more playful and funky beat. Although the vocals remain very dreamy, the understated jazz background adds to the groovy tune it produces. 

Why Melt Away is worth the listen 

If you are looking for an album that will help with moments of feeling overwhelmed by your thoughts, Melt Away is something that is recommended. It is the perfect place to start when it comes to listening to Jadu Heart. This album earns its appreciation through immersive songwriting and emotional honesty. It reminds the listener to slow down and calmly understand an emotion. Melt Away is raw and unique, offering a new sound to vulnerability.