A journey from grunge to hip hop to electronic music has given Hannah Hastings – stage name SMUT. – an eclectic range of influences. Her debut self-produced single Water Nymph is a pleasantly effortless slice of contemporary R&B with a Scottish twang.
The arrangement is rich and inviting; Hasting’s lilting harmonies layer up to create a lush backdrop for the main vocals while the wandering synth riff and its accompanying vinyl crackle feel like a nostalgic embrace. Cutting through the ethereality are trappy hi-hat trills and thrumping bass kicks, lending Water Nymph a hazily clubby atmosphere at its louder points. The chirruping keys that usher the song out are a highlight and beautiful in their own right.
The production is very much a “turn everything up to 11” affair, with the booming kick forcing the vocals and instrumentation to jostle for second place, but the ensuing milieu is sonically pleasing in itself. To set her apart from her peers SMUT. will need to push herself lyrically and melodically; some of the melodic refrains get a bit wearisome and the lyrics mostly fail to leave a lasting impression, but it’s not enough to ruin the listening experience.
Water Nymph is a strong debut and lays the groundwork for whatever comes next for the aspiring R&B star. Drawing from her influences and pushing the compositions beyond her comfort zone will surely lead to a huge 2021 for SMUT.