Something about Eylsia Nicolas and her song Wake Up In The Morning is incredibly touching that is more than just soulful R&B vitality. The awareness of the path to it, the wounds, the severe illness, the voice loss that came almost to stop her permanently, imposes this unbelievable burden on every word she utters. This is not just a song but it is a victory in the face of the situation that would have shattered most individuals.
This stunning foundation, made up of the rich piano and the snappy drums, is tapped by the self-assured emotive lead voice of Eylsia, floating over the whole track. Her runs and ad-libs, which are gospel-infused, are both strong and intimate at the same time, with the emotional depth that only authentic lived-in experience can bring. It is possible to feel the influence of her Irish-Filipina background throughout the soul and gospel genres and come across something that is very personal and yet close to everybody.
The most interesting thing I find is that the song has a feeling of the heaviness of waking up alone, which Eylsia is familiar with after years of being alone due to illness. But here is this inspiriting element running through, a strength which will not be subdued. The hooks are clean and memorable, the mix is breathing beautifully and the groove keeps this inspirational energy even in the more reflective parts.
It is a miracle in itself that every note she sings is, given that she has damaged her voice indefinitely after having damaged her lungs and vocal cords with improved audio technology. This is music produced under such odds and by a person who believed that she would never sing again.
Wake Up In The Morning is smooth and sincere at the same time- an appropriate wake-up song with a genuine repeat value. It topped the Groover Singer-Songwriter Charts, and, frankly, it is easy to listen to the reason. This is strength that is made into a work of art, isolation that is accepted, but not given up. Genuinely inspiring work.