'My Motherland' is SANGINA's sincere tribute to her homeland, full of love and nostalgia. There's a strong connection she feels with her place, which continues to shape who she is, no matter where she goes. Born in Kazakhstan to a Kazakh dad and an Uzbek mom, she now lives in Los Angeles. Being multi-cultural, SANGINA mixes her Kazakh roots with Western styles in this song keeping an ever-lasting bond with her homeland.
SANGINA's stunning voice is the sound of cultural fusion. She unites and rules the bluesy flow with her riffs and runs, slides and rasps, some serious vibratos, microtones, slides and slurs and so on. There are just so many elements in her voice to explore, like a sculpture with fine and intricate details. Then there's a massive wave of powerful vocal harmonies and a smooth key switch, right at the peak.
Apart from SANGINA's strong hold on her vocal performance, the music of this song is also incredible. It goes hand in hand with the vocals, starting softly and gradually becoming intense. In a 3/4 time signature, the beat strikes a perfect balance between the softness and intensity needed for the song's climax.
The instrumental is a mix of different guitar tones that are constantly switching up the dynamics through a variety of patterns. Then we have the tight and snappy beat with shimmering hi-hats and cymbals. As the music starts to feel a bit dreamy, in the background, there's a subtle organ that adds an interesting texture. All these well-performed instruments have just the right amount of reverb to give out a serene atmosphere.
Moving on from the music towards the lyrics, SANGINA speaks directly to her motherland, sharing how much it means to her, more than anything else. Her homeland isn't just a place; it's a big part of who she is, deeply rooted in her heart and soul. She reflects on how she can still feel connected to it, even when she just closes her eyes, showing that her bond with it goes beyond physical distance.
Then she brings up memories of summer nights that feel comforting and warm. These memories gives her peace and happiness, strengthening her emotional connection to her homeland.
The chorus shows just how much she misses her homeland. She longs for everything about it, from the roads she walked to the feeling of belonging. The longing is so strong that it’s hard for her to even put it into words.
The bridge is sung in Kazakh, adding a personal touch. She sings about drinking from her homeland’s springs. She also hopes that her homeland can offer her comfort through this song, showing how music keeps her connected even when she's far away.