Abigail Lapell - Shadow Child
Outside Music
Released on May 8th, 2026
Abigail Lapell’s record Shadow Child is one of my favourite albums of this year, as it is a time capsule documenting nine months of pregnancy through a collection of nine songs, including a cover of “I Can Sing a Rainbow” by Arthur Hamilton. The record also features collaborations with other musicians who are mothers, including Dana Sipos on the track “Mockingbird,” and Pharis Romero, featured on “So Long.”
The first time I listened to this soothing concept record, I was sitting outside enjoying the spring breeze and the warm sunshine, which made me appreciate the colourful portraits of motherhood Lapell was painting through her music.
What makes Lapell stand out as a singer-songwriter is how she uses colourful imagery and metaphors to express her thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a tangible way.
“Emotions can’t really be put into words, so as a writer I am always grasping for metaphors; colour is such a powerful trigger,” said Lapell.
The album title Shadow Child was inspired by ultrasound imagery. “You are seeing this shadowy figure on the screen, and in some ways it is the most intimate relationship you can have with another being,” said Lapell.
Metaphorically, the title represents how over the years she has been trying to build a family. While she was pregnant, Lapell imagined this person that she hoped to bring into the world.
Now that she has a child, there are lots of unknowns about who this person will be.
As a mother, Lapell marks her child’s milestones through time, a sentiment she captures in the opening track, “Whistle Song (One in a Million).” “Having a child, you are measuring their first couple years in months, then you switch to years,” said Lapell.
This song is bittersweet, as it also explores how, although every day is a new beginning, there is a limited amount of time with endless possibilities.
In my opinion, “Whistle Song (One in a Million)” is the perfect way to start the album, as it creatively conveys the passage of time. The calming vocals and warm instrumentation of “Whistle Song (One in a Million)” give the song a lullaby feel, as the soft and gentle arrangement contains guitar and piano. I also love how the introduction plays on the song title, as it is a melodic whistle line.
There is a mixture of emotions conveyed in Lapell’s vocals—joy, anticipation, and sadness—enhancing the bittersweet mood.
Another highlight on the record is the track “Mother Tongue,” as I resonate with the message of finding time to spend with family after a busy week.
Since Lapell is constantly touring, these peaceful moments at home are how she winds down.
“It’s that balance between always being on the road, and then you find your home with each other,” said Lapell.
Different seasons represent different points of our lives, which Lapell conveys through colours and images in her lyrics. The warmth of this record reminds me of the leaves in the fall.
