With Ekko, Berlin-based Irish-Norwegian artist Tara Nome Doyle unveils her third album—a journey that ventures outward into the unknown and inward to the depths of the self. Along the way, it explores pain, farewells, new beginnings, and ultimately, acceptance. Spanning just 30 minutes, the album exudes a remarkable clarity—not just in its brevity, but in its emotional depth. Songs like Lighthouse, Bad Days, and Dive In feature refrains destined for large venues, their powerful melodies soaring on pop-infused harmonies before retreating into the intimacy of the verses.

After two concept-driven albums, Ekko places the music itself in the spotlight. Alchemy (2020) explored the four phases of alchemy, while Værmin (2022) delved into Carl Jung’s psychological ideas of the persona and shadow. While concepts can offer a framework for artistic work, Ekko feels like Tara’s first “free climb”—an unrestricted and fearless exploration. The songs stand, grow, and unfold entirely on their own.

This newfound freedom is reflected in the album’s minimalist approach. Tara produced most of Ekko herself, intentionally keeping the musical palette simple. She collaborated with Grammy winning producer and engineer Simon Goff (The Joker, Chernobyl) to create a precise, stripped-back soundscape built around voice, piano, guitar, strings, Mellotron, and occasional analog synthesizers. A personal touch lies in the string arrangements: before transcribing the cello parts, Tara recorded vocal demos for each line herself.

Ancient myths weave seamlessly through Ekko, intertwining with Tara’s introspective themes. The figures of Narcissus and the nymph Echo embody two extremes—self-obsession on one side and complete conformity on the other. These ideas resonate deeply in today’s digital landscape, where identity often shifts between authenticity and the pressure to assimilate.

With Ekko, Tara reveals how repetition—like Echo’s curse—is not merely mimicry but can be transformative: a reinterpretation of tradition and identity. Here, Echo becomes more than a passive voice; she is a medium for reshaping and reclaiming meaning.

This transformation is beautifully expressed in Lighthouse: "You learned to cut yourself up / into bite-sized portions / praised for when you bow your head / in sweet devotion / cause everybody loves a thornless rose / but that’s not how they grow."

It’s the story of a young artist breaking free from expectations that don’t align with her own. As the song suggests, conformity can stifle growth—both personal and creative. In Bad Days, Tara shifts from vulnerability to quiet strength, showing how accepting fears, rather than suppressing them, can lead to resilience.

On the album cover, Tara wears shell headphones, a poignant symbol of listening inward. The sound we hear is not distant or external—it’s the pulse of our own blood coursing through our veins. At just 27, Tara Nome Doyle has crafted melodies and imagery that navigate the complexities of self-discovery and transformation. As she sings in Dive In: "Soon as you think you’ve made it / life comes with all its changes / unsullied dreams have faded / left yearning for some way to make amends / before lights end."

The untainted dreams of what it means to be a human and an artist have faded—perhaps they were never entirely her own, but shaped by others. Now, the waves crash against the reflection, and the sea roars. It’s a sound that resonates through all of us—a deep echo of our own being.