Fiona Joy Hawkins’ “When Shadows Talk” is a serious, thoughtful piece of work.

The album feels magical, the way it starts in stillness and goes through tension to create the perfect climax.

The album opens with “Stasis.” It sounds like a lullaby being sung to you. The notes from the piano actually feel magical. The harmonies are soft. Overall, the song is a soft opening for the album that just feels perfect. As we move on to the next track, “The ghosts of war are marching,” Hawkins shifts into something darker and more charged. It discusses past memories that feel as if they are resurfacing. It really takes you out of the calm and makes you feel as if you’re in a conflict internally.

"For those willing to listen slowly, it rewards with moments of beauty, grief, and clarity."

The next track is “Lava and Snow,” which is one of the more melodic, flowing pieces. The track feels more cinematic in nature. There is texture in the song that just makes you feel awake all over again. The music is deeply reflective and actually makes you feel something.

As we move towards the next track, “Angel’s Message,” we’re surprised by a quietly flowing, melodic track. There is a sense of something familiar in the track. The track sounds magical, like something spiritual in the midst of angelic harmonies. The music has a lyrical melody this time, creating a new element. The next track is “The Lost Ballerina,” which feels like it was drawn from a personal memory. It feels like a vulnerable, more intimate track.

The track feels like it was meant to reveal something of the artist hidden beneath. The melodies are graceful but hide a deep layer of sadness. As we move to “In the Deep,” it makes us contemplate and almost meditate. The tones are darker, the piano notes deeper; it feels like we’re in a whole different dimension with this song. It's like a pretty turn that we took from the album to explore something even deeper. The next track, “Outside the Circle,” seems to explore the sense of feeling like an outsider. There is a tension between belonging and isolation. The piano here alternates between more spacious, open chords. The track takes the listener outward, to realize there are many more conflicts in the outside world than there are in the inside world.

The next track is “Finding the Clearing,” which talks about possibility. It suggests light entering an empty space. The music comparatively has more hopeful beats and less tension. It’s simpler and much more transparent. It feels like a breath, a moment of hope. The next track, “The Mirror,” is a lullaby for reflection. The song talks about how what we see in ourselves is barely all that we are. There are spiritual shadows and hidden energies that one possibly cannot see. The music involves gentle repetition that feels soft and dreamlike, and the whole vibe of the song is just delicate. This track likely continues the sense of emerging clarity, but also of mystery. The next track, “The journey (Solo piano),” is one of the more substantial pieces, in length and emotional weight. This song feels more raw, with the solo piano acting as an instrumental; it's like the anchor for the second half of the album. The raw theme and undertone of the track only enhance the album even more. The next track is “Hitting the Glass,” which is very short, sharp, and tender. The track has a lower register and heavier tone. Some high notes to suggest fragility. It serves as a reminder of life’s fragility. The next track, “The brown bird,” closes the album. This song has themes of sadness and mourning, but at some points, you can also feel the hints of hope slipping in that make the song feel every bit magical.