One of the number

Abstract

One of the Number is the debut solo electroacoustic album by Maltese composer and pianist Véronique Vella, released in 2021. The album documents women’s lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through a combination of spoken-word narratives and original music. Featuring contributions from women across six European countries and presented in five languages - Maltese, English, French, Italian, and Spanish - the work offers an intimate and personal exploration of isolation, uncertainty, resilience, and hope during an unprecedented global crisis. Each of the album’s ten tracks is named after a participant and reflects her individual perspective, ranging from experiences of illness, healthcare work, and remote teaching to motherhood, journalism, and social isolation. Musically, the album draws on influences from minimalism, ambient psychedelia, and sacred music, creating an emotional landscape that shifts between darkness and optimism. By combining personal testimonies with electroacoustic composition, One of the Number serves as both an artistic response to the pandemic and a collective record of women’s experiences across Europe, ultimately emphasizing human connection and the aspiration for a better future.