After “Liminal”: Valev Laube Previews Half of “Equinox”

With Equinox, Laube continues his genre-blending journey, drawing on personal introspection and cultural motifs to craft music that resonates across borders. The first three tracks of Equinox are already available in an early preview, offering listeners a taste of the EP’s ethereal sound and thematic depth.

From Liminal to Equinox: A Musical Evolution

Laube’s debut album Liminal was a culmination of 15 years of songwriting, weaving together 18 tracks of original compositions and reimagined Estonian folk tunes. Praised as “a sonic journey 15 years in the making” and “a powerful statement of artistic maturity”, Liminal showcased Laube’s ability to blend contemporary folk-inspired melodies with his Estonian heritage. The album’s title Liminal (meaning a transitional or in-between state) reflected its overarching theme of personal growth and transformation; each song captured “a story, a feeling, or a moment from that liminal space,” as Laube explained. Critics lauded Liminal for transcending boundaries with its innovative mix of the traditional and the modern, calling it “a heartfelt masterpiece” that “beautifully captures the nuances of transition and growth”.

Equinox is positioned as a natural successor to Liminal in both concept and spirit. Laube himself has described the new EP as showing “a more mature side of me — music rooted in my mental-health struggles and the self-damaging choices that hurt me physically and emotionally, and placed strain on the people who stood by me with patience and kindness.” In a recent social media post, he revealed that the EP’s songs are “about healing and making amends,” and expressed hope that they “offer comfort to anyone who needs a reminder to be gentle with themselves.” Guiding the project is the symbolic idea of an equinox, a moment of perfect balance between day and night. Laube says he wants the music to feel “like the warm blanket you reach for as the leaves fall and winter approaches: something that helps you stay kind to yourself, so you have the strength to love others.” This poetic vision signals that Equinox will continue Laube’s introspective journey, delving even deeper into personal themes of struggle and reconciliation, while maintaining the immersive, reflective tone that characterized his earlier work.

Healing Themes and a Balanced Soundscape

The concept of Equinox – literally a balance of light and dark – is central to the EP’s aesthetic and emotional landscape. Laube’s creative approach intertwines music with visual symbolism, informed by his background as a designer and visual storyteller. The cover art for the EP (as seen above) features a brooding winged figure of Laube himself poised between shadow and light, echoing motifs of angels and twilight. This imagery builds on the mythic, celestial themes introduced in Liminal and in Equinox’s lead single “Halo in Freefall.” In fact, the single’s artwork – a winged figure clutching a violin in fur-lined darkness – was deliberately symbolic. “The winged figure on the cover represents the soul in motion… caught between heaven and earth,” Laube explained when discussing “Halo in Freefall”. That visual of an angelic being suspended between realms reflects the music’s delicate dance between hope and despair, light and shadow.

Musically, Equinox finds Laube continuing the introspective, atmospheric style he honed on Liminal, while pushing into new territory. Early listeners will recognize the “airy Nordic vibe” of his folk influences carried forward, yet Laube notes the new compositions feel like “a bridge into uncharted territory” that he’s only beginning to explore. In keeping with the equinox theme, there’s a sense of duality and balance in the sound – gentle and soothing yet tinged with earnest emotion. Laube’s classical training and folk roots remain evident in lush violin melodies and resonant piano chords, but these are now blended with ambient textures that give the songs a spacious, contemplative character. As he did with Liminal, Laube seems to be weaving tradition and innovation: using classical instrumentation (like violin and piano) against modern ambient production, creating music that feels at once timeless and contemporary. The result, based on the previews, is a soothing sonic palette that can be as comforting as a warm blanket, even while it carries the weight of personal reflections.

Previewing the First Tracks of Equinox

To usher in this new era, Laube has released three preview tracks from Equinox on SoundCloud, giving fans an early look at his work-in-progress. The tracks – “Halo in Freefall,” “Midnight Muse,” and “Mirrorlight” – each offer a glimpse into the EP’s emotive core and sonic direction.

“Halo in Freefall,” the first preview single unveiled in the spring, sets an ethereal tone. The piece is a dreamy, piano-driven instrumental that unfolds with a meditative calm. Its structure is sparse and open, built on rich piano chords that ebb and flow “like gentle waves,” complemented by soft string-like pads and reverberating harmonies that lend a celestial atmosphere. The tempo remains unhurried, inviting the listener to drift “into the space between notes”. Despite being recorded as a demo, the track’s ambient depth and cinematic quality shine through. Laube’s own insight into “Halo in Freefall” underscores its introspective nature: he was inspired by the idea of a “halo as a symbol of light and destiny, and freefall as surrendering control,” crafting a song that feels devotional and otherworldly. This single not only continues the personal journey from Liminal but also introduces the key motifs of Equinox – a longing for equilibrium and peace amid turbulence.

Following that, “Midnight Muse” arrived as a second instrumental preview. True to its name, the track exudes a nocturnal, contemplative mood. While detailed analyses of “Midnight Muse” are scarce, Laube described it upon release as a direct follow-up to “Halo in Freefall,” implying a creative through-line between the two pieces. Listeners have noted that “Midnight Muse” expands on the ambient folk fusion of its predecessor, possibly with a slightly more pronounced melody weaving through the midnight ambiance. Its lengthier run (around 4 minutes) allows themes to gently develop, suggesting a muse that whispers inspiration in the quiet hours. Like the other previews, it remains instrumental, inviting the audience to project their own emotions onto the soundscape.

The most recent preview, “Mirrorlight,” was released in mid-September 2025 and adds another facet to the EP’s narrative. Laube introduced “Mirrorlight” as an evolution of the ideas set forth by the first two tracks. “It still echoes the airy Nordic vibe of my album Liminal but feels like a bridge into uncharted territory I’m only beginning to explore, first with ‘Halo in Freefall’, ‘Midnight Muse’, and now this piece,” he wrote, encouraging listeners to let the violin lines and gentle piano carry them. True to that description, “Mirrorlight” carries a reflective quality – the very title conjures an image of moonlight on a mirror-like lake, perhaps symbolizing self-reflection. The track features delicate violin melodies dancing over ambient piano foundations, marrying Laube’s folk sensibilities with an expansive, new age sound. It’s as if the music itself is looking inward, holding up a mirror to the artist’s soul and to the listener’s own introspections. The emotional undercurrents are subtly powerful; even without lyrics, one senses themes of reconciliation and hope emerging.

Each of these three pieces serves as a musical journal entry on Laube’s journey of healing. Together they paint a cohesive preview of Equinox: gentle yet profound, rooted in classical-folk fusion yet exploring atmospheric ambience. They also demonstrate Laube’s meticulous craft – from composition to production – and his willingness to share work in progress with his audience. The early feedback and listener reflections, which Laube actively seeks (“Your thoughts might steer the next phase!” he told fans), suggest that Equinox is a living project shaped in part by communal support and dialogue.

A Multidisciplinary Artist with a Personal Vision

Valev Laube’s venture into Equinox is backed by a rich and varied artistic background. Not only is he a musician and composer, but he has also made a name for himself as a designer and multimedia producer, working on digital design for Broadway and beyond. BroadwayWorld’s profile of Laube highlights his work on innovative visual designs for theater productions and major brands – a creative dual life that clearly influences his music. This multidisciplinary experience means Laube approaches his musical releases with a visual storyteller’s eye. From the symbolic cover art to the narrative flow of the tracks, Equinox reflects a synergy of his talents. As The Northern Voices noted in a spotlight on Laube’s earlier single, his “dual career in design and music” results in art that is attentive to both sonic and symbolic detail. In Equinox, listeners can expect that every element – the compositions, the artwork, the thematic messaging – has been thoughtfully crafted to complement the others, creating an immersive experience.

The impact of Liminal on Laube’s trajectory provides context for why Equinox is so anticipated. Liminal was not only an artistic milestone but also a deeply personal one for Laube – a “celebration of growth, transformation, and the in-between moments that define us,” as he described it upon release. It resonated with fans who found its blend of nostalgia and innovation moving. Now, with Equinox, Laube is poised to delve into the next chapter of that story. The new EP’s focus on mental health and healing indicates that he’s channeling even more of his personal life into his art. This candor aligns with the broader trend of artists using music as a means to navigate and normalize conversations about emotional well-being. Laube’s contribution is unique in that he filters those themes through the lens of Nordic folklore and natural imagery, like the balance of an equinox or the metaphor of a halo in descent, making his work both intimate and universally relatable.

As of now, Equinox is slated for an official release in December 2025, perfectly timed with the year’s winter equinox when day and night hang in fragile equilibrium. The decision harkens back to Liminal’s New Year’s Day debut, suggesting Laube’s fondness for symbolic dates. In the meantime, the three preview tracks are available for streaming, and Laube has been actively engaging listeners for feedback as he finalizes the EP. For fans and newcomers alike, this period offers a rare glimpse into an artist refining his creation in real time – a collaborative dance between creator and audience.

With Equinox, Valev Laube stands ready to wrap up 2025 on a thoughtful, harmonious note. The EP promises to be more than just a collection of songs; it’s an invitation to find balance in opposing forces – to embrace both the darkness and the light within us. In Laube’s evolving discography, Equinox represents a moment of synthesis: past and present, folk and ambient, personal pain and healing, all converging into a gentle musical solace. As the leaves continue to fall and winter edges near, Equinox just might be the “warm blanket” of sound that listeners reach for, providing comfort and strength in equal measure.