Each Measure Feature: Shani Weiss

FEATURE

Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Shani Weiss says of her second single, “What’s Left”, “this one is truly my heart on a track,” and indeed, the song presents an elegant, introspective portrait of a soul in migration.

Weiss chose to drop the single on March 21st, 2025, World Harmony Day, which she describes as “a day that celebrates the very thing the song represents: change, resilience, and finding home in the unfamiliar.” The song is now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and Bandcamp.

For a song that’s only 3:48 in length, the single manages to cover a lot of ground, laying the singer’s soul bare and exploring themes of self-discovery, the pressures of raising a family, and the importance of honoring your roots while welcoming the future. Perhaps this is because it was written on the eve of a life-changing journey.

According to Weiss, “I wrote it just days before my family and I left Israel, stepping into the unknown with nothing but a few suitcases, a guitar, and a dream of starting over in Australia. Amidst the chaos of packing and painful goodbyes, this song became my anchor – a way to process the overwhelming mix of fear, hope, and love.”

Listening to the lyrics, it’s easy to understand how the songwriting process helped Weiss stay grounded in a time of confusion. I recognize a sincerely resonant search for resolution in the face of the conflicting emotions of excitement and uncertainty, brought to life by Weiss’s poetic imagery and delicate vocal performance.

Musically, “What’s Left” taps into the country western and folk traditions, underscoring the delicate vocals with an ethereal arrangement of piano, guitar, flute, and drums. The fast-paced, pattering rhythm that builds throughout the song echoes themes of urgency and apprehension when confronted with upheaval. The overall effect is to turn the song into a deep exploration of a soul on the precipice of transformation.

“What’s Left” has left me with a lot to contemplate, but one thing is for certain: I will be watching Weiss’s career very closely to see what’s next for her.

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