The latest release from Annahstasia, Tether, is a poet’s acoustic journal. The key to the album is Annahstasia’s vocal delivery. At times her voice is quiet, a seeming whisper. The stanzas linger and her voice breaks. Then, there are these strong moments where you feel the volume and the power of her voice.
In terms of instrumentation, most of the album is simply her voice and an acoustic guitar. There are occasionally, some drums and backing vocals, as well as two features. One from Obongjayar and another from the poet Aja Monet. I would say that the works’ narrative strength lies in the intimate/personal environment that these songs create. All these elements combine to make for a piece that I would categorize as beautifully melancholic.
Truthfully, however, the narrative the album is trying to tell is not clear. But that isn’t a weakness. Annahstasia uses it as a strength, as the album is filled to the brim with figurative, poetic and flowery language. Though the message is not immediately clear, I prefer it this way. As a listener, it makes you really pay attention to the way words are sequenced, as well as the cadence of how the lyrics are sung.
“Be Kind”, is a song of leaving something/or someone behind. A strong introduction to the album. This track reflects someone chasing a dream, leaving it – or someone – behind, and still ultimately not finding joy
or happiness in these decisions.
"I found so much beauty and awe for the matter that had collected before me. I found a bit of stillness in myself. In the conversation between me and the other, I want to remind everyone that we are all reflections of each other, the actions we lead with in the world will always come back to greet us in some form. So it’s best practice to take a few deep breaths and find kindness again. I believe that is the world we all want. A kinder one. A softer one."
The second track “Villain” really pulls you in. I couldn’t help but draw similarities to Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. Her timbre is akin to Chapman, and to some extent her voice draws parallels in my mind to Baby Rose. This one is the one I come back to the most, such an excellent execution.
Again, this project captures an acoustic and folk feeling whilst the last song has a bit of distorted electric guitar. The narrative themes seem to bounce between longing, dreaming, with an idea of fleeing. At its inception there is a through line of choosing oneself with the first string of songs.
Whilst there are also faint whispers of another presence that she asks to be sensitive with her. At times Annahstasia is singing to a character, an unnamed person hoping they understand her fragility. She compares herself to porcelain on a top shelf on “Take Care of Me”.
In “Unrest”, the track prior, this unnamed figure I presume to be a lover makes her feel uneasy though she has all the elements to feel comfortable. She, as the song states, is in a state of unrest. Again, very vivid yet melancholic analogies. Such can also be found in “Satisfy Me”. Imaginative description of dissatisfaction and the ever-present chase of something.
These are some of the highlights of the project. Although Tether is a record that normally wouldn’t have found its way to me, I’m glad it did. With such a strong delivery and emotional resonance, I couldn’t help but
listen. Annahstasia’s voice accompanied by these beautiful acoustic guitar strings creates something truly poetic yet heartbreaking.
Though the album does lack some sonic variety, it makes up for it in flowery analogies, strong vocal delivery, and a killer closing track. Tether is definitely worth a listen, if not for the artistic writing style, or sonic
delivery, then perhaps simply for catharsis in a trying time.
