Dima Sounder’s latest song, ‘Play Your Hearts,’ is a sweet, buoyant tune that’s dynamic enough to draw you into the artist’s repertoire.

The composition demonstrates the full range of the artist’s talents and how comfortable he is at incorporating multiple instruments and arrangements. A boyish acoustic guitar chord carries the first part of the track, after which the song cleverly lulls you into a callow, guileless headspace only to enrich the piece with a symphony of beautiful instrumental melodies.

The piece captures the first-love sensation of discovering music and how it holds power to completely wrap you in its magic. Dima’s voice is tinged with a soulful sensitivity, one that expresses itself in measured moments. He knows when to reign it in and when to let it soar. What’s more breathtaking is the interplay between the strong but steady chords of the piano with that of the guitar. The melody isn’t a flat line; it soars and deepens as it glides its way towards the chorus. 

By the time the pre-chorus hits, the trumpet kicks in, and it becomes obvious that the song is comprised of a number of different melodies and harmonies, all of which work together to fill it with emotion and excitement. From the violin to the harmonica to a groovy percussion upbeat that just enables the track to maintain its cheerful tone, Dima is not afraid to take risks. If one listens to the lyrics closely, they’ll see multiple pop culture references that’ll straight away put a smile on their face. 

The bridge is largely instrumental, but Dima’s self-deprecating, conversational insertions redirect our attention and pay homage to the brevity of life we’ve all come to accomplish. The bridge, in which all the instruments blend together to create a magical harmony, is probably the most memorable segment of the song, which makes the short last chorus all the sweeter. 

The Austrian producer-songwriter has been at it for a while and continues to delight his audiences with his humorous outlook on music. His 2020 challenge was to make one song per month, and the piece he’s chosen to close out the year might be his vest best.

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.