‘War With America’ was written during Gretel’s first ever trip to LA and produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J, Wolf Alice, Bloc Party). The track explores the process of emotions that come with being away from home and the feelings of self-consciousness and vulnerability from awkward social situations. Inspired by the jangly guitar riffs of alt-80s artists like The Smiths and The Cure, ‘War With America’ is more visceral than Gretel’s previous records and showcases her exceptional storytelling in a way that screams to be played out in a live setting.

Speaking on the track, Gretel explains: “‘War With America’ is about my trip to LA this year. I was 20, had never been away from home and went away for 6 weeks to stay with friends and write music out there. My friends knew everyone and were older and more mature, they had different and luxurious ways of living and impressive knowledge on niche subjects. There were sneaky secrets and hidden agendas out there and I was surprised at how awfully out of place and alone I felt. It was like being in high school, desperately wishing I could just be part of the cool kids herd. I knew I wanted to belt the chorus, after so many suffocating and internalising social interactions I just needed to be able to scream something out.”

The post Gretel Hänlyn releases new single ‘War With America’ appeared first on She Makes Music.

Ushering in a brand new era of self-discovery for the nineteen year old, ‘Drive’, sees Gretel at her most commanding and assured. Written on the road during a period of touring where she was craving fast-paced fun and hysteria in her performances, it’s an experimental departure from the indie-folk textures of her debut EP and an audacious shake up of guitar music from one of the UK’s new frontrunners.

Speaking on the track, Gretel explains: “I feel so excited by what I’m doing right now musically which I’m taking as a really good sign that I’m doing the right thing and I feel like I’m getting closer and closer in my musical self discovery with each track. I also love how I’m utilising my femininity and then total neutralness in my music, girly creepy singing behind totally genderless music. I’ve been really getting into lyricism as well, again not restraining myself and allowing myself to say things that before I’d perhaps think twice about or think was uncool.”

The post Gretel Hänlyn returns with new single ‘Drive’ appeared first on She Makes Music.