In “Nostalgia is a Friend,” writer Pauline Miranda captures the emotional resonance of Clara Benin’s return to her debut album Human Eyes as she celebrates ten years in the music industry. The piece unfolds with a quiet reverence for the passage of time, portraying nostalgia not as a fleeting sentiment but as a companion that gently guides artists back to their roots. For Benin, revisiting the songs that launched her career is more than a retrospective, it’s a rediscovery of the emotions, intentions, and vulnerabilities that shaped her early artistry.
Miranda’s writing delicately traces how Benin’s relationship with her music has evolved, revealing layers of growth and introspection. The artist reflects on how the lyrics and melodies of Human Eyes continue to speak to her, albeit from a different vantage point, one shaped by experience, maturity, and a decade of creative exploration. The article emphasizes that nostalgia, in Benin’s case, is not about longing for the past but about honoring it, allowing it to inform the present without overshadowing it.
Through intimate anecdotes and thoughtful commentary, the article paints a portrait of an artist in conversation with her younger self. It celebrates the enduring power of music to preserve memory, evoke emotion, and foster connection, not only between artist and audience but within the artist herself. Clara Benin’s journey, as told through Miranda’s lens, becomes a testament to the beauty of looking back with gratitude and moving forward with clarity. In this way, nostalgia truly becomes a friend, gentle, grounding, and ever-present.