Now and then, a song makes you pause because its subject feels familiar, even if you haven’t thought about it in quite the same way before. That was my experience listening to ‘Approval’ by Niamh Beatrix. Written when she was just 14, the song explores the desire for acceptance and the influence other people’s opinions can have on how we see ourselves. It is a subject that often becomes more complicated with age, yet Beatrix approaches it with a clarity that makes the track feel remarkably relatable.
South African-born and Ireland-based, Beatrix describes herself as “just a girl with an old soul, a guitar and a pet jumping spider.” There is something refreshingly unpretentious about that description, and it sits comfortably alongside a song that deals with a very human concern without making it feel overly serious.
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An Arrangement That Finds Its Own Rhythm
The arrangement brings together elements of soul, R&B, pop and jazz, with the piano giving the track much of its character. Rather than relying on heavy production, the instrumentation leaves enough space for the vocals to take centre stage. Subtle percussion and the movement between quieter passages and fuller sections help the song develop without making the progression feel forced.
I particularly like how the arrangement allows the energy to build. The piano gives it a sense of movement, while the understated rhythmic details keep things from becoming too predictable. There is a warmth to the production that makes the listening experience feel inviting, without taking away from the subject at its heart. The central idea is explored through the tension between wanting to be accepted and learning not to let that desire define you. It is an experience that many people recognise, particularly when external validation begins to influence personal decisions and self-worth.
Beatrix’s vocal delivery adds another layer to this. She moves between more restrained moments and stronger, more expressive passages, giving the performance room to develop. The fuller vocal sections bring confidence to the song, while the quieter moments make its message feel more personal.
Final Thoughts
What I appreciate about ‘Approval’ by Niamh Beatrix is that it doesn’t try to turn a familiar struggle into a grand statement. Instead, it gives the subject room to breathe through an arrangement that feels warm and a vocal performance that carries genuine conviction.
It also makes you think about how much importance we place on being understood, liked, or accepted by others. Those needs don’t necessarily disappear as we grow older, but perhaps we become better at recognising whose opinions deserve our attention. For a song written at such a young age, that is a thoughtful place to begin. And it is the honesty behind that thought, more than anything else, that stayed with me.
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