What of Our Nature

What of Our Nature marks a significant maturation in Haley Heynderickx’s discography, arriving seven years after her breakthrough debut. Moving away from the 'quirky' labels that occasionally trailed her early career, this album is a masterclass in chamber folk restraint. Recorded with a focus on live-in-room takes and minimal overdubbing, the album highlights her technical prowess as a fingerstyle guitarist - a style heavily influenced by Leo Kottke and John Fahey but imbued with a modern, indie-folk sensibility. The lyrical themes shift toward ecological interconnectedness and ancestral history, notably on tracks like 'In Bulosan’s Words' and 'Buffalo, 1981'. Critics have noted the album's 'organic' sonic palette, which utilizes woodwinds to provide a textural counterpoint to her voice. It stands as a definitive statement of her artistic identity, prioritizing emotional honesty and sonic warmth over commercial polish.