The Music and Planet Project

When the Narrative Changes

An artist taking a second swing at their own work is always a gamble, but Bernice Marsala’s “This Is Me Walkin’ Out (Reimagined)” proves it was a decision worth making. Originally rooted in the folk/singer-songwriter realm, this new version keeps the same defiant lyrics but musically transforms the story, providing hooks right from the title. The genre shift plunges the song into a dramatic world of Alternative Pop and theatrical score. It’s the kind of arrangement that wouldn’t just sit perfectly in a West End musical but would be the backdrop to a show of girlpower in the most addictive of Disney movies!

The scale of the instrumentation comes as a surprise: sweeping strings and lilting keys are established centre stage, then percussive injections surprise and delight. The backing vocals are used with sophistication, sometimes supporting the main vocal and sometimes dancing alongside it. Listen out for the dramatic pause followed by the hint of a key change – these are the theatrical moments that turn a song into an emotional experience. Marsala handles this sonic ambition with the confidence of someone fully in control, delivering a vocal that is utterly resolute.

Ultimately, the payoff is the sense that the narrator has found the strength (and the proper orchestra) to back up their conviction. Marsala has now given us two distinct stories from the same song. Which version do you reckon holds the most emotional truth? Let us know your take!

Stream This Is Me Walkin’ Out (Reimagined) here and follow Bernice Marsala on Instagram.

Check out the Up and Comers playlist to stay up to date on emerging artists.

–Stephen Choi for Up and Comers