written by Maria Arroyo
Singer/songwriter, Anna Morsett, just released her new project, the Still Tide. She also just released her 7-track EP titled, Between The Skies. Moresett says that she loves the “intimate place these songs spring from her private life, but she also really love to move and dance.
In many ways this EP is an attempt to bridge those two worlds; to retain the tenderness while also making us sway.” She also explains that this EP is both “equal parts of love and loss, opportunity and closed doors…” which radiates throughout her songs. Listening to the album, you hear a lot of her indie-rock influences throughout the songs.
As I started to dive a little more into her life as a musician, I realized that the connection between her and her music is something that I aspire to have in my own songwriting. Moresett explained, “writing and playing music has always made me feel like I belonged to something other, something beyond myself. It always had the answer before I could think of the question and settled me in the world, made sense of it, of myself. I feel like I’m still making music for my own heart just as much as I am for the hearts of others, hoping they might be carried by it as much as I’ve been.”
I believe that having a sense of vulnerability that she can share in her music is a quality that not many people have which truly makes her stand above the rest.
The opening song, “On the Line,” has a reverb-soaked tone to it that is very defining to her style. Her creative choices in the post-production of the songs do a great job of commanding a lot of space in the mix and that creates a considerably fuller sound. I also found the small horn section towards the middle of the song as a nice surprise because it’s not something I would think of adding to this style of music but she did it remarkably.
“Keep It” has a more lively entrance with some exceptionally catchy vocals that make for a great listen. Overall, this song was a very nice listen. There’s a lot of modernness behind the song, but there’s something very unique about it that I can’t quite pinpoint. Her ability to make the song move and build into something bigger keeps listeners wanting more.
“Change of Address” is produced very well which brings the album to an even higher level. A great song about accepting change and being okay with the change in your life. “Pack up your things and open up your eyes…change your address, see yourself again it takes no time…” Hands down my favorite song of the album so far!
Her next song, “Memorized Lines,” creates a more laid back feel which radiates great energy all around. I admire that her lyrics are an extension of her life, but relatable enough to connect with others. She has a way of having her music touch people in a way that is genuine and real.
This next song on her musical journey is “Better Than I’ve Been.” It showcases an R&B side of her that is very refreshing. This song is a great testament that you can have a simple outline for a song that tells an even bigger story through a set of great lyrics. She really does have a way with words and I connected with her music and songwriting style. She’s also a very versatile singer and showcases a strong vocal range in this song.
“Amsterdam” is another catchy song with a great story, and bringing back the horns for this song was a nice way to tie the songs together. Her closing song, “Acres,” a simple yet fantastic close to the album. It was so raw and stripped down especially in her lyrics like “trading courage for control at every turn… just protecting what I love…” It was everything that I look for in a song. There is movement and an intense build-up to the song along with an incredible vocal part. After this listen I am truly a fan of the Still Tide.
Anna Moresett truly captured everything I wanted in an EP. She kept me engaged and entertained from beginning to end, and told an amazing story through it all. She probably explained her album best by saying that the songs are “delicate threads strung between these songs and around themes of perspective: what we carry, how we carry and see ourselves and how all of it affects us and our ability to love.” Any artist that can make me feel that connected to their music is a force to be reckoned with and I am so excited to anxiously await her future material!
