There’s a timeless, lived-in quality to the music that Brooke Annibale produces. Maybe that’s partially to do with her family’s creative roots, which link back to the guitar shop and live sound production studio her grandfather founded. The Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter has hit a rich, productive vein of illustrious, expansive guitar pop over the last decade, with a number of releases to her name. On her last album, 2018’s Hold to the Light, she fused together electronic and traditional instrumentation, whilst remaining rooted in her acoustic origins.
On this, her latest release ‘Home Again,’ she takes a more grounded, stripped-back approach to her craft. The number was released last month on June 26th, on what would have been her wedding day, which sadly, like much else in 2020, had to be postponed due to the current global health pandemic. The accompanying video in fact takes place at the very location in Rhode Island where the ceremony was due to take place. In Brooke’s own words, “This specific day still weighs heavily in my mind, so to honor it, I decided to release this song today. A love song to my future wife, an expression of love and gratitude for how we did indeed make a beautiful home together and we will indeed be able to get married surrounded by the people that we love… just not today.“
With stellar production courtesy of Peter Katis (Sharon Van Etten/ Death Cab For Cutie/ The National), Jake Hanner and Brooke herself, the track is imbued from the off with a comforting sense of structure before Brooke’s soothing, hazy vocals enter the picture. Comparisons have been made to fellow songwriters Julia Jacklin and Julien Baker, which are definitely accurate touchpoints. There’s an honest emotional integrity to be found in her work, particularly evident in this track, with a total lack of pretension or attempting to impress the listener. Rather, she seeks to find the truth in her subject matter, and as such, there’s a strong emotional bond formed as the song develops. As she surmises this latest release herself, “I wrote this song at the beginning of a relationship: a song about falling in love, figuring out how to communicate our love for one another, and ultimately build a life and home together.“
Plaudits over the years for Brooke’s work have come in thick and fast, and as well as supporting slots on tour for the likes of Iron & Wine, Jesca Hoop and Margaret Glaspy amongst many others, her songs have been featured on several TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. ‘Home Again’ marks another stellar addition to her catalogue, one which is already brimming with fantastic material just waiting to be discovered.
‘Home Again’ is out now. Brooke Annibale’s complete catalogue of music is available to Stream/Purchase here.
