Reviews
Artist:Anna Renae Album: Speaking Her Mind
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: https://www.annarenaemusic.com
Speaking Her Mind is the follow up to debut album Skin, which was one of the most exciting debuts of 2020. Like that album, these are songs that were all written by Renae in her teenage years, and these represent that last of her back catalogue for release. The quality of these songs are of the same level as those on the album, so it must have been incredibly hard to decide which were going to make the cut for her debut. It's a relief that these five didn't disappear into the ether of the great unreleased tracks however.
Of the five songs there are two that stand out as the highlights. The title track is a wonderfully upbeat sounding song with a deeper message covering teenage anxiety. The quality is such that is stands shoulder to shoulder with the best tracks on Skin. Celebrity is the other pick on the EP. It's probably the strongest vocal performance we've heard from her so far, and is utterly captivating. The song itself is a look at the damaging effects of fame, and on this form, fame might just have to be something that Anna Renae may have to get to grips with in the future.
While these two tracks certainly stand out, that's not to say the other three are anything other than strong songs, and each would be the pick of other releases. They Say shows off her vocal range with a song that soars to impressive heights, while My Heaven is wonderfully low key with a poetic lyricism. The EP ends with The Blame, which is another strong track lyrically, and again marks out Renae as a real talent.
It's not uncommon for emerging artists to be compared with established names, usually in a way that positively flatters the newer name. So it's easy to scoff at the fact that comparisons have been made between Renae and the likes of Taylor Swift. This is one time however where such lofty associations do not seem at all misplaced. With her lyrical openness and vulnerability and a vocal style that resonates with strength, it would not be a surprise at all if Anna Renae were to become as ubiquitous name as those (currently) more famous musicians.
If these tracks represent the last of her back catalogue, I can't be the only one very excited to see what comes next.
Adam Jenkins
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Speaking Her Mind
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Corsair is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.