Singer/songwriter Aisha Badru’s therapeutic sophomore album ‘The Sun Still Rises’ is a softly stirring record of hope and humanity, channeling her gentle, dreamy folk-pop songwriting into musical inspiration and empowerment.
Stream: “Life to Live” – Aisha Badru
I’m very intentional about the music that I release: That it is medicinal, that it can soothe emotions. This album encapsulates the entirety of my growth.
* * *
Music truly is a form of therapy when it comes to Aisha Badru’s second album.
The singer/songwriter has always created from a place of love and deeper connection, but what makes her latest effort so undeniably special is its intentionality: Born in moments of stillness and reflection, The Sun Still Rises is a softly stirring record of hope and humanity, channeling Badru’s gentle, dreamy folk-pop songwriting into musical inspiration and empowerment.
Take your time
It’s your life
There’s no rush
Close your eyes, fantasize, focus
What does your heart want?
What are you afraid of?
It’s your life to live
If you want to leave then go
Run off the beaten path
Smell every single rose
Don’t you be afraid
You’re gonna make mistakes
Nobody really has the answers anyway
Released November 29th, 2024 via Nettwerk Music Group, The Sun Still Rises is the album equivalent of an outstretched hand. Following her 2018 debut album Pendulum (and four EPs, each of which is well worth the listen), Aisha Badru’s second LP finds the artist energized and invigorated, shining her inner light out into the world the way she knows best.
“I wanted to create a collection of songs that offer optimism while staying grounded in the reality of the emotional weight we carry, especially during a time of rising anxiety and depression,” Badru tells Atwood Magazine.
“At first, I envisioned making a record focused on sound healing, with lots of vocal harmonies, ambient production, and instrumental-based tracks. However, as the process unfolded, I found myself leaning more into my love for storytelling and stripped-back instrumentation. In the outro, ‘The Calm,’ I revisited the ambient soundscapes, collaborating with a producer who specializes in binaural beats, which are essentially sounds designed to help you relax and enter a meditative state.”
Long a staple of Atwood Magazine‘s pages, Aisha Badru has made a name for herself over the years as a contemplative, human-centric storyteller. Atwood Magazine previously described her 2021 EP The Way Back Home as “the intimate and hopeful homecoming we didn’t know we needed: A collection of deeply spiritual music full of beauty and pain, self-discovery and healing that enriches the present moment while inspiring us to believe in ourselves and our self-worth.” Badru’s songs, as intimate and expressive as they are catchy, moving, and uplifting, are a comforting beacon of light and love here to illuminate our way forward.
Badru candidly describes The Sun Still Rises as a grounded, hopeful, and honest record.
“The Sun Still Rises reintroduces me as an artist who has grown to have a more holistic understanding of life,” she says.
“My earlier music, especially songs on Pendulum, was focused primarily on heartbreak. I used music as a tool to process and cope with emotional pain. But with this album, my focus has expanded to encompass all aspects of wellness, from mental health to self-care and practicing gratitude. I’ve come to see music as not just a way to express pain, but also a means of offering support and encouragement to others.”
While time has played a part in shaping Badru’s present musical approach, what’s even more important is all that’s happened over the six years between her debut album and her sophomore release.
“For one, I’m now a mom of twin 4-year-olds, and that’s shown me how closely our emotional healing and self-awareness are connected to how we raise the next generation,” she reflects. “More than ever, I’m working to integrate the lessons I share in my music. Singing the message is one thing; fully embodying it is a lifelong process.”
The album’s title, she says, symbolizes resilience and the constant evolution of life. “For me, the rising sun represents the ability to overcome darkness and move through uncertainty. It’s about trusting that, despite the hardships, the potential for transformation and renewal is always there.”
More than ever, I’m working to integrate the lessons I share in my music. Singing the message is one thing – fully embodying it is a lifelong process.
Highlights abound on the journey from album opener “A Little Mad,” which aches unapologetically with the inner conflicts caused by modern life (at least, the one prescribed to us by society), to album closer “The Calm,” an ambient, binaural instrumental piece developed with sound healing and music therapy in mind.
In between these two bookends, Badru delivers to her audience a stunningly warm and inviting soundtrack filled with tender acoustic guitar work, rich melodies, and soothing, soul-stirring vocal performances. Her intimate lyrics light a fire inside as she reflects openly on what it means not just to live, but to live well: To find fulfillment, balance, and purpose in this world, to understand ourselves and our needs, and to embrace our own inner faith – be it hope, optimism, trust in nature or the divine, or something else entirely. For Badru, music is so much more than a means of entertainment – a truth that rings especially true in tracks like “Life to Live,” title track “The Sun Still Rises” (a personal favorite), and “Finding Our Way,” where she channels a litany of life lessons, hard-earned wisdom, and earnest advice into heartfelt verses and cathartic choruses.
“Yes, I’m an artist, but I’m very intentional about the music that I release: That it is medicinal, that it can soothe emotions,” Badru says. “This album encapsulates the entirety of my growth.”
Whereas a song like “In the Making” was born of Badru’s own experiences of growth and self-discovery, it is ultimately an embrace of change and shedding old identities for anyone and everyone listening; and on “Tunnel Vision,” relatable moments of darkness and hopelessness are challenged, or rather, assuaged, with reminders that life is so much more than a singular headspace or emotional experience. Badru’s personal stories are merely the vessel through which she unpacks and explores these greater themes that touch us all.
“One of my personal highlights from the album is ‘In The Making,’” Badru says. “This song is a reflection of where I am in life right now. Turning thirty brought the question, ‘Who am I?’ back into focus. It felt like a moment of reckoning, where I had to reflect on how far I’ve come, and whether I’m living in alignment with the person I’m becoming, or if I’ve been holding onto a version of myself that no longer fits. It’s a reminder that growth is a continual process, and we’re always evolving.”
Meanwhile, she cites one of her favorite lyrics as coming from the song ‘Side of the Moon’: ‘You feel so small as you look up at the moon / don’t you know that all the stars, they shine for you?’
“This lyric addresses one of the oldest existential questions: Are we truly insignificant in the vastness of the universe, or do we have a place in something much greater?” Badru explains. “When we look up at the sky, it’s easy to feel small. Yet, there’s something deeply meaningful in simply being here, in the act of witnessing the world unfold and playing a part in it. So, even when we feel small compared to the enormity of the universe, our existence is integral to a much larger, interconnected whole.”
Ultimately, The Sun Still Rises succeeds in its mission to uplift and soothe its listeners.
Badru’s music is a powerfully intentional buoy for our mental and emotional states, made with that therapeutic and medicinal purpose in mind. She achieves these goals by artfully (and poetically) conveying her messages without preaching or overreaching. The songs themselves demand nothing of us, other than that we listen; if someone happens to soak up some nuggets of wisdom along the way – which they inevitably will do – then all there is to say is that we’re better off having listened to this album, than we were beforehand.
And that’s not something you can say about all music.
The sun still rises in the morning
The air is clear, the day is new
It doesn’t care the I’m in mourning
It doesn’t know I’m missing you
Inside my heart there was an earthquake
Everything I knew fell away
As I was stranded digging my grave
The birds were singing anyway
And the sky was a magnificent blue
The water sparkled, the flowers bloomed
I thought I’d fall apart for you
But if the sun still rises then I will too
– “The Sun Still Rises,” Aisha Badru
“Creating this album has been a deeply cathartic process,” Badru shares. “It’s given me space to reflect on my growth, and now putting it out feels like a full-circle moment. It reminds me of the power of sharing stories and connecting with others through music. My hope is that in doing so, I can encourage others to embrace their own evolution, knowing that every step, even the hard ones, is part of something meaningful.”
Experience the full record via our below stream, and peek inside Aisha Badru’s The Sun Still Rises with Atwood Magazine as she takes us track-by-track through the music and lyrics of sophomore album!
— —
:: stream/purchase The Sun Still Rises here ::
:: connect with Aisha Badru here ::
— —
‘The Sun Still Rises’ – Aisha Badru
:: Inside The Sun Still Rises ::
— —
A Little Mad
“A Little Mad” reflects the internal conflict between the routines and addictions of modern life and the yearning for something more meaningful.
Life To Live
This song is an anthem of self-empowerment. It’s about living authentically, following your passions, and remembering that life is ours to shape. The themes here directly reflect my journey of leaving college to pursue my dream of being a singer-songwriter.
In The Making
In The Making” captures my journey of growth and self-discovery. It reflects the process of shedding old identities and embracing change. This song is a testament that we are always in the process of becoming, and that growth often comes with uncertainty, but also immense potential.
Boundaries
“Boundaries” is about knowing when to step back and give yourself the space you need. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to say no, to turn off your phone, and to just be with yourself when the world feels too loud. This song promotes taking time to recharge, prioritizing your peace, and setting boundaries to protect your well-being.
Side of the Moon
This song is about having faith that everything happens in our lives for a divine purpose. I hold the belief that everything we go through is pushing us in the direction of wholeness and healing which in some way is also simultaneously contributing to the wholeness and healing of the world.
Tunnel Vision
“Tunnel Vision” is about the emotional struggle of feeling stuck and losing sight of hope. I wrote this song as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, things can and will change for the better.
The Sun Still Rises
This song delves into the themes of destruction and resilience and highlights the contrast between personal struggle and the world’s ongoing beauty. As the sun rises without fail, it symbolizes hope, reminding us that there is a way forward.
Thankful To Be Here
This is a song of gratitude for the array of life experiences; the good, the bad, and the in-between. Becoming a mom and watching my parents grow older has made me more aware of how precious life is and how lucky I am to be here.
Finding Our Way
This song is about embracing wherever we are on our life’s journey and optimism about where we’re headed.
The Calm (664Hz)
This track is a binaural beat instrumental that I created with musician Simone Bresciani, who specializes in this form of sound-healing music. Binaural beats involve listening to two slightly different frequencies in each ear, which the brain perceives as a single, new tone. This technique is thought to promote relaxation, focus, and emotional healing, reinforcing the idea of music as a form of therapy.
— —
:: stream/purchase The Sun Still Rises here ::
:: connect with Aisha Badru here ::
— — — —
Connect to Aisha Badru on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
© Jeffery Trapani
© Jeffery Trapani:: Stream Aisha Badru ::
