Witch Prophet - Words Are Spells, Thoughts Are Magic
Heart Lake Records
Released on March 18th, 2026
Witch Prophet’s LP, Words Are Spells, Thoughts Are Magic, evokes the feeling of walking through a maze. The cross-genre sound of this record is unique; it blends R&B, soul, and jazz. Influences for this LP include Nina Simone and Sasha Keable. The instrumentation is meditative, with the trumpet adding a spiritual tone. Witch Prophet also spotlights her Ethiopian roots, featuring parts of the album sung in Tigrinya alongside a field recording of her aunt singing a traditional Amharic song of pride.
The inspiration behind this record is Witch Prophet’s experience surviving a brain tumour. I highly recommend listening to this LP in order, as it is divided into two parts. In my opinion, Side A: Words Are Spells conveys Witch Prophet’s thoughts and manifestations that helped her heal. The album title is a mantra to keep fighting.
“Re-enforcing those positive thoughts with how you decide to speak about yourself and others really does shift how you are living and how you are feeling, and what you are going through,” said Witch Prophet.
Side B: Thoughts Are Magic is an expression of gratitude and the valuable lessons she learned. Featuring other women on this project was also an important element. The trumpet arrangements are played by Feven Kidane and Tara Kannangara.
One of my favourite songs on Side A is “Breathe,” produced by both Witch Prophet and her wife, SUN SUN. It is a gentle reminder to stay grounded. Instead of second-guessing if you are good enough, remember you are in control of your destiny. This sentiment is conveyed in the second verse: “I’m right where I’m supposed to be, manifesting dreams.” I deeply resonate with this line, as I am always thinking about the future, waiting to find my path in the industry. Sometimes I am too focused on the end goal and forget to stay present.
Another highlight is “Secret Garden,” which is on the second half of the LP. The message of this track is to let people into your life who contribute to the relationship in a reciprocal way. Sometimes that means setting boundaries and filtering out those who only take from you without giving. This theme is conveyed in the line: “Welcome to my garden / Behind the thorns you will find the real me.” This means that there is a wall, but if you break through, you will see Witch Prophet’s true self.
A major element of the creative process was the production. Usually, SUN SUN handles this entirely, but this time Witch Prophet challenged herself to produce the first half of the LP, while SUN SUN worked on Side B. Since this was Witch Prophet’s first time stepping into a production role, she enjoyed the challenge.
“It taught me to sit within myself and be like, is this good enough for me? Will I look back at this later and say this was my first time doing that and it sounds good? Or will I be like, I rushed it? I really had to work through these emotions and thoughts while working through the album,” said Witch Prophet.
I rate this album 10/10. There are no skips, as each track is part of a greater story. I am empowered by Witch Prophet’s resilience and determination. It is a reminder that words matter, and although it is easy to feel down or second-guess yourself when times get tough, you need to remember that it is during these times that your words count the most.
