In a stunning return to the soulful depths of '70s R&B, Imari Birch's Guiding Star emerges as a masterful love letter to motherhood. The track, crafted as a pre-birth dedication to her daughter Charlie, seamlessly weaves together the warm embrace of a Hammond organ, delicate trumpet arrangements, and orchestral swells that echo the golden era of soul music.

Birch's vocals, rich with emotional resonance, carry the weight of maternal love with a sophistication that recalls the best of Gladys Knight and Minnie Riperton. The song's structure builds like a gathering storm of emotion, progressing from intimate verses about shelter and protection to a soaring chorus that feels both deeply personal and universally touching.

The production, while paying homage to classic R&B arrangements, maintains a contemporary clarity that allows Birch's powerhouse vocals to shine through the carefully layered instrumentation.

The song »Guiding Star« is a chapter in the upcoming novel »The Girl and the Duck Detective and the Fall of the Squirrel Prince« by Christian Heinke.