American Singer-Songwriter Hillary Reynolds Blends Ethereal Folk with Emotional Tension and Release on New Single, “Gaslight”

On her new single, “Gaslight,” singer-songwriter Hillary Reynolds leans into surreal tension and floating vulnerability, capturing the hollow ache of being gaslit with intimate clarity and ethereal vocal layering. Stripped of drums and anchored by a percussive acoustic guitar, the track hovers in an emotionally charged space between fragility and strength – a sonic embodiment of that feeling when your world feels shaken but your truth still flickers in the dark.

Written in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, “Gaslight” came from a deep place of fear and emotional overwhelm. “Some songs feel consciously crafted,” Reynolds shares, “but this one was different. It came from letting my subconscious unwind – letting my intuition drive the bus.” What emerged was a powerful reflection on love, illusion, and persistence – as tender as it is gutting.

As a vocalist with deep choral roots, Reynolds lets her harmonies guide the track’s emotional current. “The way the vocal lines weave in and out feels like a nod to my Eric Whitacre phase,” she says. “It’s the closest I’ve come to revisiting that part of myself and it felt like home.” Originally tracked with drums, Reynolds ultimately removed them to preserve the impact of her guitar and voice. “The second I heard it without percussion, it just clicked. My gut knew.”

“Gaslight” marks a poignant step deeper into the world of Reynolds’ long-awaited debut album, Changing Seasons, out later this year. Originally written pre-pandemic and completed post-motherhood, the album reflects transformation in all its forms – creative, emotional, personal. It’s a record of change, healing, and returning home to oneself.