London, 2025

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Aliya Lark is a composer and performer based in London. After her debut EP Sparks released in 2024, Lark returns with a new EP, Gravity of the Ocean, directly inspired by the post-minimalism, ambient and contemporary classical worlds that shape her artistic influences. A person of water in her own words, Lark has always been drawn to bodies of water of all sorts, and this now translates in her new work. With the piano as her main medium, Lark is accompanied by the violin of Maria Shaginova and a plethora of elegant textures and atmospheres. 

 

Gravity of the Ocean begins with “Drowning in the Dark”; an atmospheric piece, where the textures are the main actors, and the piano balances through the different sonic elements and layers of sounds. It is all very sparse and announces the tone of melancholy and gravitas that the EP carries. “White Poppy” now gives the main role to the felt piano, which further develops on the melancholic and mellowing identity of the music, gradually creating, for the listener, a subconscious state of mind. “Gravity of the Ocean”, giving its name to the project, is a shy melodic piece; a beautiful, precious and intimate melody on the piano is surrounded and decorated by atmospheric textures. “Reeds Rustled” is a lot more confident in its rhythmic and harmonic choices yet remaining hypnotic and bringing a new environment and ambient quality, at times evocative of strings. “Cold Shores” returns to a fragmented and fragile piano melody accompanied by delicate waves of string textures, flushing in and out. Concluding Gravity of the Ocean, “Whirl”, gently brings the listener on a perpetual dance. Throughout the EP, Lark crafts a music that is not only evocative, but also incredibly descriptive and heavy in emotions. 

 

Gravity of the Ocean, as its title suggests, brings a sense of gravity in the musical and emotional evocative intentions of Lark. This is not just abstract music, but an intended message that is to be passed on from the composer to the listener. And this reflects in the care and attention in the detail of Lark’s music. Everything is meticulously crafted, each aspect of sound being looked after and with no space for chance. If the EP is all digitally released, one must not ignore the wonderful visual work accompanying the release too, which believe it or not is AI created and resonates with the textural acoustic and electronic weaving of Lark. A great way to integrate new technologies. Altogether, this is a wonderful piece of work from the composer!