Lucy Fitzgerald 
Neil Soiland’s “Harlequin Tears”, featuring Sarah Vita, is a hauntingly beautiful ode to pre-war American music that sounds both timeless and completely unique in today’s musical landscape. With its lilting ragtime rhythm, smoky clarinet, and layered instrumentation, the track evokes the melancholic charm of a bygone vaudevillian era. Soiland, a multi-instrumentalist and deeply committed musical historian, has crafted something extraordinary here: a lush, emotionally resonant piece that feels like it drifted in on an old gramophone from the 1930s.
Sarah Vita’s voice is a revelation—smooth and expressive, with a smoky, mint-julep tone that perfectly complements Soiland’s understated, emotionally nuanced vocals. Their duet carries a theatrical intimacy, one that makes the sorrow and sweetness of the lyrics land with real emotional weight. The inclusion of rarely heard instruments like the clarinet, vibraphone, harp, and accordion adds a dreamy, immersive texture that modern production rarely dares to touch.
I find “Harlequin Tears” to be a standout release of 2025—an inspired and courageous musical risk that pays off in full. It’s rare to hear a contemporary artist so deeply and earnestly connected to the roots of American music without a hint of irony. The song doesn’t just reference the past; it lives in it, breathes it, and elevates it. This track—and its beautiful origin story—showcases Soiland’s devotion to authenticity, and it leaves a lasting impression. Simply put, “Harlequin Tears” is a triumph of mood, melody, and meaning.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
