Savannah Brister SOFT Album Release

I spent a wonderful week getting to know Savannah Brister through her new album, Soft, which is out today. She has a haunting voice that has been compared to Nora Jones and Madison Cunningham. The Nora Jones comparison speaks to me as an all-time fan of Nora. I forget exactly what happened between me and Nora Jones but it was something to do with Ravi Shankar. Although Come Away With Me was an international success it is her funny-amazing alt-country work with the Little Willies that cemented Nora as one of my faves.

Savannah was a leading contender on the US version of The Voice and her success spinning out of that show is well-deserved. She really has got a voice. But this new album shows that she also has something rarer than a voice: killer songwriting credentials. Musically this is gentle, relaxing alt-country, light on production with a very natural sound. I just know Savannah is another of those artists who could record a whole album with only herself singing and playing her own guitar. Soft was recorded with a small team in Memphis, TN.

There's nothing soft about Savannah, which might sound like a surprising thing to write. She explains: "This record is about learning to live with tenderness in a world that doesn’t always reward it. Soft isn’t about being fragile—it’s about embracing vulnerability as strength.”

This is something I have written about recently in connection with Meghan Linsey and her incredible Humble Again. This idea is gaining ground: that in showing vulnerability and letting an audience in to your struggles (and some of them might be very personal struggles of a kind you would prefer not to share) the artist gains strength. Hitting rock bottom, and admitting that, and letting people see it, can be liberating. Kat Edmonson has recently released her song, Worst Day, which says exactly this. I've had my worst day now, everyone saw it, and I'm moving on. I'm pretty much invincible now.

In the first full-length track on the album, Limbo Land, we find Savannah wishing things had been different and regretting decisions made. It is a driving song, a gentle little chugger with a high-pitched chorus. It is a strong start. It is about growing up too fast. Her twelve year-old self wanted to grow up fast and now her 24 year-old self realises that being twelve was better than it seemed at the time. These are timeless thoughts that we all share, don't we? This song establishes Savannah as one of us. Someone you will want to listen to.

I think another way to describe Soft the album, and perhaps an even better way, is to say that the tunes are soft and gentle but the words are anything but. These are deeply considered tracks, covering all of Savannah's life experiences so far, and they are not soft at all. Zandi Holup momentarily flashed across my mind.

Savannah Brister Q&A (with UK Questions)

Savannah offered to do an email Q&A with me and I am so thankful and happy that she did. I made sure to ask some questions from a UK perspective as around half of my readers are UK-based. Her answers were so charming and thoughtful that I decided to pretty much include the whole thing here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and thank you, Savannah!

What are the best and worst things about being an independent artist?
I love having creative control of releasing whatever I want! That is the awesome part! The hardest part is having to wear all of the hats a label team would be: marketing, booking, director, writing, recording, financing #supportyourindependentartists

Which song on the new album means the most to you and why?
Ooooh! This question is so good and so hard!  It’s like I have to pick one of my favorite kids haha!  I’m gonna have to go with Limbo Land.  I began writing this one a couple years ago when there was so many questions and not a lot of direction. And then 2 years later I picked it up with a friend and finished it on the other end of that really hard season. It was just really sweet to have this song bookend the beginning of a hard chapter and the end to it as well.

Favourite shoot for one of your videos?
Haha! That’ll be Limbo Land again! We line danced! (Well I tried to, while the professionals did their thing!)

Your top 3 interesting things about Memphis for UK readers?
Best BBQ ever!! Don’t let Texas tell you anything different! We’ve got a really big pyramid in Downtown Memphis that’s turned into a really big Bass Pro Shop!  It’s kind of our redneck flex here! Haha! And third, if you really want to go where all the locals hangout…check out Overton Square!

Favourite thing about the UK?
I haven’t gotten the chance to visit the UK yet, but this country girl would have to say y’alls accents!

Memphis. Where is good to eat?
(Cyrena Wages keeps talking about food.)
Haha she and I both are foodies!  Best burger in town is Farm Burger! So good!! And I’m a caffeine addict so gotta throw my favorite coffee place, The Hub!

Best live venue in Memphis?
If you’re looking for intimate listening venue, I’d say the Green Room at Crosstown! Best outdoor venue has to be Overton Park Shell!

Favourite Country music tropes/symbols? (I am making a list that includes chaps, cowboy hats, cigarettes, shotguns…)
I wear these all the time so overalls??

Thanks again to Savannah for doing that. I hope you agree that with the exclamation marks and question marks her personality and positive attitude really shine through.

Let's go back to the lovely music. If you let your ears step back and just listen to the tunes without the words, they are gentle and caressing songs. In Before You Sign she is singing about death, god and the end of our lives. Deep stuff but in such a beautiful, gentle song container! Her light and subtle voice often delivers very powerful lyrical imagery. This is the final track on the album and you wish there were more. I could listen all day to this album. I have been doing so. I'm so relieved you finally get to hear it today.

Savannah plays a FREE album release show at Overton Park Shell on 7 June!