Label: Wise Old Owl Records
Releasing One Soul, Healing Another: A Profoundly Moving Orchestral Song Cycle of Love and New Beginnings
Kimberly Haynes elevates her music to profound personal depths on Into The Light. This orchestral song cycle, seven years in the making, guides listeners through grief and renewal, inspiring reflection and connection.
“Grant Us Peace” begins your journey Into The Light. The soft acoustic sound of the mandolin’s strings, combined with keys, bass, and Kimberly's angelic voicings, creates a meditative space infused with divine essence and spiritual calm.
“Narrow Bridge” begins with a trumpet and synths. Kimberly’s vocals are from the Baal Shem Tov. Israel ben Eliezer[a] (c. 1700[2] −1760[3]), known as the Baal Shem Tov (/ˌbɑːl ˈʃɛm ˌtʊv, ˌtʊf/;[4] Hebrew: בעל שם טוב) or BeShT (בעש״ט), was a Jewish mystic and healer regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism (source Wikipedia). A baal shem tov is a "Master of the Good Name"—that is, one able to work miracles using a secret name of God.
This is the longest track at nearly eight minutes. It is beautiful, and I did not understand a single word, but I was still profoundly moved by the vocals and the sheer beauty of the musical accompaniment. I have not heard anything quite like this before; truly amazing.
“I Am My Prayer” gave me the chills immediately, hearing Kimberly’s deceased husband Brian’s voice. This must have been so difficult for her, but the meaning goes beyond words. The music is a perfect partner, particularly the cello’s strings, which add a longing, dramatic color to the composition. Gentle keys fill the spaces as the lady says goodbye to her lover and friend with her words on the wings to a higher place for her soul mate. Tears started coming, and I could not stop them. So powerful and full of absolute love and promise of another life beyond this one.
“Into The Light” features keys and a string arrangement. The orchestral elements serve as the final touch to this woman’s incredible voice. The energy and flow of this track are simply beautiful and so moving, as is all this music. Kimberley’s voice is the main instrument on this recording and reaches incredible heights throughout.
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” or "Mbube"[a] is a popular song written and composed by the South African musician Solomon Linda in 1939. It was first published in South Africa and reached the United States a decade later. In 1961, the Tokens adapted the melody and added English lyrics.
This is quite a step away from all the previous tracks and came as a welcome change. I was feeling overcome with sadness and loss (because of my own life experiences), and this felt like a relief valve and a pause to exhale and remember, so many years ago, my youth. Done very well with cajon, bass, acoustic guitar, charango, organ, piano, drums, and djembe!
“The Enchantment” (Sita Ram) is a crystal bowl and percussion piece, a very simplistic composition, and a mesmerizing chant with the hypnotic beats of the drum. I found this piece meditative and focused, with some layered vocals that just have you drifting away from your current space with ease. Simplistic beauty and perfection.
“Moola Mantra” features the Bansuri and percussion. Once again, I am hearing words I do not understand in an English-speaking way; however, I did so in another, spiritual and transcendent way. A bansuri (flute) is an ancient side-blown bamboo flute originating in the Indian Subcontinent. Its notes float with the rhythms and passages of Kimberly’s incredibly flexible, transitioning vocals—a very organic, earthy track with impact.
“Cielito Lindo” returns to the simple road with acoustic guitar and vocals. It is a Mexican folk song, or copla, popularized in 1882 by Mexican author Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, and is associated with the Sierra Morena mountains in Spain or Mexico. You will recognize it immediately. I found it a lovely, interesting way to close out the album.
Into The Light stands out as one of the most moving and distinctive recordings, I’ve encountered this year. The instrumentation, production, and overarching purpose of the album beautifully convey the journey of one soul releasing another into the light. The interplay of words and music radiates optimism, emphasizing themes of hope, renewal, and spiritual awakening, thereby deepening the emotional connection for potential listeners. While themes of sadness and loss are present, the album ultimately offers a message of illumination and renewal, a beacon guiding the way toward new beginnings.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder
June 25, 2026
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