In 2020 New Zealand based Singer Songwriter Ronél Hunter released her debut album ‘Move at will’.
New Zealand went into lockdown days after the release of her album, and a loved one in South Africa passed away shortly afterwards. Spiralling into depression, Ronél threw herself into her writing and she enrolled into some “one on one songwriting sessions” with Mary Gauthier, who helped her to face some of the emotions, and to be honest about them in her writing.
It was a journey of emotional truth, leading to a new depth in her music. Adding to her depression, compounded by changes, separation from family and her sister’s illness she was now dealing with the grief of losing a loved one and not being able to attend a funeral. Through her writing she gives a real account, in an effort to encourage others to speak up about Mental Health or to be a listening ear to a sufferer.
Ronél’s new single ‘Dang Black Dog’ is an emotionally truthful account of what it is like to simultaneously deal with depression and grief. Her main hope is that the stories and experience found in her songs will help others in some way and encourage them along their journey. Through her story telling, she will make you laugh and maybe even cry, illustrating that all our emotions are just part of being human.
Credits:
- Recording – Tony Burt
- Steel guitar- Tony Burt
- Violin – Jude Madill
- Guitar – Ronél Hunter
