Postcards To Heaven Losing a loved one can bring out so many emotions that we didn’t know that we even had inside of us. On her heartfelt tribute to her mother who passed away from cancer, Lily Meola has returned with a new EP, affectionately labeled as Postcards To Heaven. Meola shared, “Since losing my mom, writing music has been a form of therapy for me. These songs stem from my grief and the everlasting longing I have to communicate with her. I decided to put these out on her birthday as a way to dampen the heartache that this day brings and to honor her. I hope that sharing these songs will help others who are facing grief.” By creating a touching EP that tugs on all of the right heartstrings, Meola quickly showcases the healing power of music.
The EP opens with “Northern Star,” a song about seeing the people who we’ve lost in others, or at least people who remind us of the ones we’ve cared about the most in this world. Meola beautifully sings over an acoustic guitar that her late-mother is her “northern star” as she attempts to navigate her life without her mentor. “Spaceship” relies mostly on the piano, while Meola’s great croon over the piano strokes evoke a wide range of emotions in her delivery. In the chorus of, “You never taught me about heaven / Or what I’m supposed to do with thoughts and prayers / I picture you dancing with the planets / Oh, I imagine you made a lot of friends up there,” Meola sends her thoughts towards her mother into the heavens.
”Sewing Machine” opens with the gentle hum of the device in the background, while Meola paints a vivid picture of one of her mother’s past-times through picturesque lyrics. She showcases great restraint in the verses to get just the right emotional response, while accentuating her vocal prowess on the choruses. “Butterfly” is another touching tribute to her mother, who clearly had a lasting impact on her life, as Meola sings vulnerably on the track that is a standout on the EP. The title track was previously released last year, but it makes more sense here as bookend to a great record that has no shortage of powerful moments to it. The artwork for Postcards To Heaven is well-constructed with a symbol of each of the five songs that are found on the EP, while Meola’s star shines bright for her mother. Meola’s mother is surely proud of the woman she has become, and must be smiling down on Lily today.