Celia van Onna – “Barefoot Promenade” | Progressive Rock Central.com

I think Celia van Onna, from the Netherlands, may be one of the best discoveries I’ve made in 2025. It’s like meeting up with VEiiLa last year. And I think I found Celia the same way, through a Facebook advertisement.

Celia van Onna’s music is what the world needs right now. A global trade war and several actual military wars ongoing, along with global upheaval bringing fear, tragedy and remorseful feelings everywhere. What we all need right now is a soft peaceful voice, supported by equally relaxing and spiritually nurturing music. Celia van Onna’s new album, Barefoot Promenade, was actually released on May 31st, 2024. But as I always say, its not when, its that you finally hear a piece of music that moves you.

Celia van Onna, would like to invite you into her world. As she describes, “A place that leaves you bathed in whale songs, tickled by leaves and danced upon by rain. There, where the wind whispers secrets in your ear. Perhaps, it will inspire you to oat away from reality for just a little while”. Yes, “oat’, a playful way of saying “avoid reality” or “escape from reality”. Something we could all use right now, for sure.

As her press release states, “While creating her music, Celia van Onna connects to her origin, which lies deeply rooted within the Earth. Her creations are shaped by her curious dreams and funny feelings and thoughts, and emerge from her infinite admiration for Mother Earth and her descendants. She is and will always be in awe of it all, and enchantingly shares that with you through her music”.

Celia van Onna invites you to experience Barefoot Promenade, a journey through the wonders of this world, elemental occurring, mysterious creatures of the night and passion for the protection of our planet. The promenade that represents this journey should be taken barefoot, skin on skin”.

At 25, Celia van Onna may be closer than many of us in understanding the relevance and importance of how to live life daily.

The album opens with what might be the best song on the album. “Child of Mother Earth”. It starts off with Celia’s vocal incantations, supported with orchestration, piano, flute percussion, strings and other warm backing effects. A small orchestra. Celia sings, “All lived together in peace. ‘Till humans developed their evil traits. Living for all of their shallow conveniences. Taking everything, they can. Leaving their filthy handprints everywhere. How can they not see the value and beauty in the eagle’s eye? Water is flowing past the roots. Let it heal, let it through. And let it be their escape. Sunlight is carving through the leaves. Let it feed them; let it live. Let the creatures get away”. Yes, very deep lyrics, another wonderful trait of this grand opener, and something that can be heard throughout this album. That lovely stop and go melody, that makes you think and concentrate hard on the lyrical content. She continues the story, “All in the circle of life. Us being as worthy as the smallest ones alive. Greed and fire bleed from our eyes. Until we have melted the last piece of ice. When will you see your connection to every leaf on a tree? Embrace the sound of the wind. Listen to what its voices bring. Dance with the waves of the sea. All of this once gave birth to you and me”. Then, the powerful punchline, “I’m proud to say I’m not like them. I’m not in line with the anger of man. With the ones who destroy all of the land. Slaves to their paper and coins. ‘Cause I am nature’s child. My heart is one with the creatures in the wild. The Sun is my father and my mother the Moon. And the mountains, they whisper my name”. Yes, “all of this once gave birth to you and me” and was also given as a gift to the world.

”Whale’s Hymn”, is another album highline. This is Onna’s second single, off the album. The sound of the whale songs, with the ocean surrounding, mixed well with talented piano, percussion, harp and powerful lyrics that will touch your inner heart and feelings, is awe inspiring. The song is inspired by Celia’s admiration and fascination for whales and their extraordinary chants. Celia sings, “Close your eyes and picture yourself hovering over an open sea, while being surrounded by nothing but water, a dark blue sky and a full moon. And then, listen, when they start to sing. Whale’s hymn shadows from the sea. Your songs are haunting me. Strange voices bring me to my knees. The moon is blue. The stars are new. And if you’re listening. You can hear them sing”. Wonderful and absolutely magnificent. For someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest and has witnessed the movement of live orcas in the sea, I can attest to the magical feeling that surrounds you in their presence.

“The Flying Goats with Grapes as Fur”, opens with wonderful instrumentation and the sounds of children playing. Then Celia reveals her dream, “I remember a dream I once had. Where goats that couldn’t walk were flying instead. Then some nice people appeared. Who welcomed me into their field. And they let me sleep I looked up to the sky. The goats were flying by. Looking up, undisturbed. I noticed the goats had grapes as fur. And I got amazed more and more. When my mother said she had seen it before. I kept looking at the sky. Watching the goats slowly getting tired. That’s the ending of the story. I knew. Maybe the goats will visit me soon”. What a wonderful and imaginative bedtime story.

Celia sings about the importance of “Roots”, to the soft, warm keys of a piano. Celia sings, “They can hear us in the morning. They can see us at night. They can feel our footsteps on their ground. I know they can feel us from all around. And when we close our eyes at night. Is when they are wide awake. Every root of every tree is connected to you and me. I want you to realize where we come from. Don’t be blinded by greed. Do you hear the whispers of the wind? Do you hear what they are trying to sing? And when we close our eyes at night. Is when they are wide awake. Every root of every tree is connected to you and me. I want you to realize where we come from. Don’t be blinded by greed”. A wonderful story with a strong moral conclusion.

“Nocturnal Bathing”, is another of the best songs on the album. Imagine, at night, sneaking out to bath in nature alone. Celia sings, to soft piano keys and flute, “And when evening comes, and the crowded sky loses its tears. In the water I go. In this nocturnal light it’s so clear. I surrender me fully. And listen to all of the songs. In the darkest of nights. My uncovered body, it floats. And when the rain is dancing on me. Euphoria washes over me”. Soft drums and orchestration fill the night air. By now, I’m sure, like me, you absolutely want to hear this album. And it will not disappoint.

“Night Fliers”, opens with bat sounds and soft keyboards. Celia sings some soft vocal incantations, before she sings the profound lyrics to the surrounding raindrops, “Somewhere in the middle of the woods. In between the branches and the roots. There are tiny bats. They’re hanging freely. They are not for everyone to see. They’ve got their wings folded around them. They’ve got their eyes closed during day. But when light blue turns to dark blue. They are slowly getting more awake. Their shadows fly over the lake. Standing here was no mistake. ‘Cause seeing them fly silently is a creation of beauty”. Soft drums and strings surround the soundscape.

“Raindrops”, is the second longest track on the album after the album opener. It is just over 7 minutes of maybe the most tranquil music you will hear this year. Imagine piano and Celia’s vocal melodies opening the track, before she sings, “It takes a certain spell. I’m asking the wishing well. Can you ask the clouds to wet the leaves. Make the drops dance around. Make them kiss the thirsty ground. They’ll be making love to the roots”. Regal horns and soft drums with Celia harmonizing. Then she sings, “Do you recall the sound. The slowly tapping on the window. It calls me to come outside on my bare feet. And calmness spreads around. And leaves me without any tension. And I am at upper peace. That’s when the raindrops fall. The view is getting blurry through the window. The sky is being filled with clouds. I can slowly feel the Earth starting to heal. It’s fighting against all its demons. Water heals and feeds the roots. I know it will always find its way. Do you recall the sound. The slowly tapping on the window. It calls me to come outside on my bare feet. And calmness spreads around. And leaves me without any tension. And I am at upper peace. That’s when the raindrops fall”. The piano playing from here on, is the best on the album. A simply magnificent song full of strings and orchestrations that will make you want to repeat this song endlessly.

Another of the best songs on the album is “I Went for a Walk”. We should all be willing to take that barefoot promenade that Celia entices you to take. This is Celia’s first single off the album. “It is about the realization that she had been sleepwalking during the night and waking up full of confusion and wonder. Listening to the song will open the door to a world you have never been before, surrounded by nostalgia and melancholia in a dreamy atmosphere. A place that reminds you of ancient castles and mystery, or perhaps of pirate ships at sea. Let the sirens lure you away to the unknown”. Celia sings, “Lately I’ve been waking up in a disoriented way. And I see the things around me are all in a different place. Why do my feet feel as if I’ve been wandering? Slowly, I’m starting to remember the dream I dreamed. Sometimes at night I tend to go for a promenade. Roaming in between what is real and my dreaming heart. Perhaps the dreams are more than just stories. Making my body follow the voices that call for me. Ooh, sleepwalking Sleep talking, sleep. ooh ooh, Sleepwalking Sleep talking, sleep-, ooh Keep hypnotizing me. Right when I fall asleep”.

“While She Tiptoed Around Pandora’s Box”, is a soft and warm instrumental filled with piano, percussion, strings and Celia’s wonderful vocal incantations!

“Calling the Swans”, is another enchanting, over 2-minute instrumental, with no lyrics, and nothing but the occasional bell and Celia’s lovely, soft, slow delivered vocalizations. A calming, bedtime or naptime serenade. Like a dream from one of your favorite movies of the past.

“Fauna”, really is the epic closer and moral to the entire story of the album. At over 6 minutes, it is another of the longest tracks on the album. The birdsong, soft taping of light drums, flute and Celia’s vocalizations will welcome you to the kingdom of nature. Celia describes it this way, “I express my connection to the animal kingdom and my wish for others to remember theirs. The siren-like singing, African percussion and tribal atmospheres will make you feel deeply rooted within the Earth again”. Then, Celia sings, “Don’t be frightened. To go and reconnect. With the wild ones. You’ll soon feel the effect. Brothers and sisters. Are all surrounding you. Witness the circle. And be pure in what you do. Follow the footsteps. And listen to the howls. Aware with every step you take. You’ll step onto their ground. Once you have reached a deeper understanding here. You’ll know that our home is their home. And every other creature’s home too. Don’t bother thinking you’re in control around here. They’ve got you figured out. Always a step ahead. Trust in their unpredictability. And open up to the pure and untamed”. Powerful album closing…at its finest.

Celia van Onna’s Barefoot Promenade, is absolutely what the world and every human being needs right now. Like Heather Findlay’s Wildfire, it welcomes you in to a place you have known, but may have forgotten, after all of the years of Covid, Lockdown, fear, trauma, war, anger, and all of the manmade things we throw at each other and around the world. Albums like Celia’s and Heather’s welcome us to change and be a part of something wonderful and bigger. It does not warn us about what we are doing to ourselves. They assume we are already aware. The two albums start from a point of view, that you are tired, worn down, and are desperate for a new experience that is welcoming and rejuvenating instead of destructive. You know where you are, you just need a welcomed change. Barefoot Promenade, invites and dares you to walk barefoot into the still night, trusting nature and your own human senses, which haven’t been used for years; to determine your path, on the journey. As Led Zeppelin sang, “Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run. There’s still time to change the road you’re on. And it makes me wonder”. Yes, I am sure it made Celia wonder as well. She took the right path. Which one will you take? Listen and buy Celia van Onna’s Barefoot Promenade, and receive some wonderful hints to the correct path!

Track List:

Child of Mother Earth – 8:41
Whale’s Hymn – 3:35
The Flying Goats with Grapes as Fur – 4:03
Roots – 5:01
Nocturnal Bathing – 3:40
Night Fliers – 4:29
Raindrops – 7:04
I Went for a Walk – 3:55
While She Tiptoed Around Pandora’s Box – 3:49
Calling the Swans – 2:46
Fauna – 6:27

All songs, arrangements and lyrics were composed and written by Celia van Onna (artist name: Onna). The vocal and piano parts, as well as the tiny instruments you hear, like lap harp, kalimba and glockenspiel, were performed by Onna. She recorded the album in Slow Down Studio (NL), with Producer Rengert Eggink. All vocals were performed by Onna; piano played by Onna; drums/percussion performed by Thomas van Herel and Rengert Eggink; cello played by María Suárez López Dārta and Adele Puriņa; viola, played by Phaedra Kalogerakou and Jonathan Speiser; violin, played by Anne van Brunschot; French horn, played by Jan de Wijs; flute played by Marie Scheuermann; clarinet, played by Kep de Groot; harp, played by Iris de Boer Dunja Stevanovic and Onna; bass played by Rengert Eggink; Lead guitar played by Rengert Eggink; and tiny instruments (lap harp, kalimba, glockenspiel), played by Onna.
All sounds and mixing engineered by Rengert Eggink, at Slow Down Studio. Extra help recording, Ruud Dielen and Jesse Borkens, and Thomas van Herel. Recording Studio Slow Down Studio. Studio Artichoque. Album cover – Steef Bastiaanssen (photographer) and Anemoon Jutte (editor).

Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/musiconna
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008469644969
https://open.spotify.com/album/0sGj6cRLTLazTYoYXQWl31
https://music.amazon.com/tracks/B0D5GS9X7R
https://www.iheart.com/artist/onna-234309/albums/barefoot-promenade-272037770/
https://www.instagram.com/onna.world/

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