Supposing you happen to hang out with Mary Fahl without knowing she’s a singer. She’d be someone fascinating. You both would be talking about Medieval literature, Hermeticism, Science, Poetry. Then you move into a musical discussion. You would probably share your love for Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone and other equally compelling artists. Sure, she would probably tell you that she is married to a Marine Biologist, and she would offer her exciting insights into that world. Then she starts singing.

For years, my adoration for her voice has not waned. It is the ONLY voice that you will immediately recognize. Sure there will be references to the late Sandy Denny or even Annie Lennox. But these are references to making it easy for you to spot where among the musical constellation she belongs. 

The fact is, we are blessed that she exists. An audience once came up to her after a live performance telling her she sounded like Enya. I don’t think this is strange. This comparison has something to do with the reverb effect. Enya uses reverb in her studio recordings, making her vocal sound resemble that of a church ambiance. Even Sarah McLachlan uses this effect in her Surfacing album that spawned a massive hit, Angel. Mary Fahl has a big voice that has a natural reverb. She can sing in a cafe, and her voice reverberates and bounces around the wall giving you that Gregorian chant effect. The thing is, she is a contralto. For a soprano, this quality would sound operatic and even too bright. But for a contralto, she gives it a “wooden” or reedy quality that sounds warm but can be both dark and angelic. 

She has this beautiful instrument that she can use for emotional effect. Has she given us all the vocal tricks that this voice is capable of? I don’t think she. Only she knows the range of her limits. With the right producer and sound engineering, she can share the gifts that the universal mind has given her. She exists for a reason. And this reason is to touch our hearts and souls. 

Her holiday album Winter Songs and Carols is once at the top of my list. It is a perfect holiday album for us who don’t like jolly Christmas tunes. We are the type who cherish the mystical beauty of the holiday season associated with the older time. 

https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3vXyo95i7KwqsHNTabgnYA?utm_source=generator