Gentle, Good, and Guided by the Heart

Open-heartedness, tenderness, kindness. In their self-titled debut album, Scottish-Canadian singer-songwriter Evangeline Gentle touches on each of these qualities. Released in late August, the album features summer-y love songs, introspective ballads and an overarching theme of strength in vulnerability.  With soothing vocals and thoughtful lyrics, this album showcases Gentle’s unique and timeless talent. While writing this album over a span of four years from the ages of 19 to 22, Gentle said, “In amongst those years, like for most, were major ‘coming of age’ experiences that began solidifying the principles I wanted to live guided by.” They continue on to explain that “the same question was posed over and over: ‘How do we become good and guided by the heart?’”  

Drop My Name 

The first track on this album was inspired by Gentle’s “experience of working in a fast food chain, but quickly evolved into being about all of the times in [their] life that [they’ve] felt taken advantage of.”  With a dreamy melody, catchy beat, and well-written lyrics, “Drop My Name” tells a story that many people can relate to. “Looking for a fool? Better luck next time/As if you don’t know what I’m worth,” Gentle sings, telling us that they know their worth and we should recognize ours as well. 

Ordinary People 

According to Gentle, “‘Ordinary People” is about the loved ones in [their] life that keep [them] ‘soft’ in a world that can so quickly harden us.”  When writing this song, they “spent a lot of time thinking about the importance of family, friendship, and community.” Over a warm, folksy accompaniment, Gentle’s honey-sweet voice proclaims: “It’s brave to be hopeful in this world/It’s brave to be kind.” In a world that can feel bleak at times, full of conflict, turmoil, and pain, “Ordinary People” reminds us to appreciate the people in our lives who keep us soft. Despite the fear and loneliness we may feel, we can still pursue being open-hearted and loving fearlessly. 

Sundays 

The timeless sound of “Sundays” makes it a love song with a classic, feel-good vibe. It’s the kind of song to play in the car on a sunny day with someone you love, or dance to together in the kitchen on a cozy afternoon. ‘“Sundays’ is about being kind with somebody’s insecurities and affirming that they are more than enough,” Gentle said. Everyone has their insecurities; part of being in love is being vulnerable about those insecurities. And part of being good and guided by the heart is being understanding and loving with those insecurities. 

Even If 

The fourth song on Gentle’s album, “Even If” is solid and smooth. With an easygoing, lowkey beat, “Even If” is catchy, immediately pulling the listener in with rich lyrics and another relatable message. Gentle calls this song “confessional,” and worried that releasing it would be giving too much away. It’s about “taking responsibility for our choices even when it’s hardest to. The moment when we realize focusing on blame doesn’t help healing.” Gentle made the right choice in releasing “Even If”. The lessons we learn from taking responsibility for our actions help us learn how to be good and guided by the heart. 

So It Goes 

Is there a song that transports you back to a different time in your life when you listen to it? “So It Goes” is about those songs, and moving from teenage years into adulthood. It’s about nostalgia, memory and summer sweethearts. When they first brought this song to Jim Bryson, who produced the album, Gentle was 20 years old and said they were “realizing that [they  weren’t] ‘18, bold and burning’ anymore but [were] at least a little bit wiser with lots of amazing memories to look back on and write about.” 

The Strongest People Have Tender Hearts 

Many of Gentle’s songs have clear messages. “The Strongest People Have Tender Hearts” is no exception. Written during the time of the #MeToo movement, Gentle aimed to process their anger responsibly, and “write from the most compassionate place [they] could.” This song is about “how we devalue femininity and how it contributes to gender based violence and about the insatiable pursuit of happiness through consumerism.” Gentle said, “I ultimately came to the conclusion that I can’t control the behavior of others but I can control my own and that ‘graciousness is where to start’ if I’d like the world to be a kinder place.” Gentle sends this message of kindness and graciousness with a slow, thoughtful ballad. Strength can be found in being good and guided by a tender heart. 

Long Time Love 

Gentle said “Long Time Love” started out with a country feel, but eventually became “one of the most pop sounding songs on the album.” This is the song to play right after “Sundays” on that sunny day car ride. Its distinct pop sound sets it apart from other songs on the album, and gives us a taste of something a little different. It’s an ode to “an earth born beauty.”  In Gentle’s own words: “Not much to say here. Love song.” 

Neither of Us 

“Isn’t love the human purpose?” Gentle sings, exploring the idea that “taking risks is part of loving somebody” in “Neither of Us.” With another warm, folksy tune that is characteristic of their timeless sound, Gentle delivers the lyric: “Love is a scary thing/But neither of us are running.” Love and trust can be scary, but Gentle sings about taking those risks with someone, calling us back to the overarching theme in this album: open-heartedness and strength in being vulnerable

Digging My Grave 

Like “Even If”, “Digging My Grave” is about accepting responsibility for difficult things. Gentle explains, “I’ve said in the past that this record is a collection of songs as landmarks on a journey of self-discover. This song is particularly representative of that.” Gentle wrote this song about the “confrontation of self-sabotage.” “Digging My Grave” is a good example of Gentle’s talent for writing songs about their own growth, and their ability to take those experiences and craft them in a way that makes them relatable for others. They pass their own life lessons down to us through their lyrics. 

Good and Guided 

Gentle saves the best for last with “Good and Guided”.  Of all the songs on this record, it best embodies the main theme of open-heartedness. “Good and Guided” is clean, earthy, and real. It is Gentle’s testament to love and kindness. It was written about Gentle’s “most impactful coming of age experience.” During a hard time in their life, Gentle moved to rural Ontario. There, they lived and worked at a camp, where they found their mind being “opened to new, kinder ways of being.” It was this experience that first posed Gentle’s driving question: “How do we become good and guided by the heart?” Throughout the album, we follow Gentle on their journey of self-discovery. “Good and Guided” acts as both a beginning and the end of the journey. It concludes the album, and invites us to ask ourselves the same question Gentle asks. It opens up the beginning of the rest of our lifetime of finding ways to be good and guided by the heart. 

Evangeline Gentle’s album is a strong debut. With beautifully written lyrics and a clear, strong voice, Gentle showcases a unique talent for both music and kindness. Their album offers a look into their life, and through that look, a hope of connection. We’re all humans together, and Gentle expresses this idea well: “We live in an extremely polarizing political landscape. We need to realize that regardless of identity we share the same visceral experience of life. We can’t forget that experience of love, loss, and suffering is the common denominator between us all.” 

The message of this album is loud and clear: love yourself, love others, be kind, be gracious and be the start of a better, kinder world. And above all, be gentle, good and guided by the heart.