Angela Autumn is a folk musician from the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania. Growing up, Autumn was surrounded by acoustic and country tunes, and her music reflects these roots today. In her new album, Believer, released on September 11, Angela Autumn showcases how elements of alternative and psychedelic rock can seamlessly blend into folk music to create a unique evolution of the genre. Through its sincere narrative, Believer presents the listener with a chance for introspection through Autumn’s revealing and spirited lyrical choices.
What first captures the listener during Believer is its alluring yet easygoing sound. Musically, Autumn never leaves her twang behind. Believer consistently features that classic aspect of high-cadenced and sharp diction country vocals that one would expect from any acoustic folk song. The album’s instrumentation consists mainly of banjo and acoustic guitar, again grounding itself in an americana feel. However, she matches these conventional folksy traits with alternative rhythmic choices, experimental vocal blends, and unexpected instrumental melodies. In the first track off of the album, “Heavy Tobacco,” Autumn starts the song with those classic high and nasally pinched vocals but later adds different vocal layering and amplifications similar to those off the dreampop and psychedelic genres which use soft and curiously incoherent dissonance to hypnotize the listener.
Moreover, Angela Autumn’s playful but simultaneously vulnerable storytelling welcomes the listener to comfortably contemplate. In the music video of my personal favorite track off of the album, “I Don’t Think About You At All,” Autumn frolics through the woods while singing lightheartedly about how she seems carefree about someone, while she is truly lovesick for the person. The way she freely and almost teasingly tells this story suggests to the listener that maybe reflection and honesty with oneself doesn’t have to be so daunting. Additionally, in the closing track of the album, “My Alchemy,” Autumn sings of how she is “so tired of getting turned away” and “of reading the headlines.” This track is noticeably one of the most emotionally raw ones off of the album. This is evident not just through lyrics; her vocals shake and crack more on this track which further reveals the sensitive nature of the song. Autumn admits her struggles in life, but through an uplifting change in instrumental chords and vocals, she shines a glimmer of hope on the listener and sings that “even after everything” there is still strength in her belief and “power” in making life worthwhile. From the listener’s perspective, “My Alchemy” is a warm and soothing track. It shamelessly confesses troubles, extends a hand to the listener to resonate with the song, and in turn helps grow faith within oneself with the conscious acceptance of hardship.
Overall, Angela Autumn’s new album Believer is a lively and whimsical musical project that tells the listener that deep thought ought to be welcomed. Autumn incorporates classic folk components of elaborate storytelling, high resonance vocals and catchy banjo melodies, and blends them with mesmerizing rock elements of alternative vocal choices and rhythms to create something new and significant which makes it an unforgettable album worth playing. Believer is a perfect listen in a changing season like autumn which often invites growth in character and life experience. So, as the leaves fall, I suggest giving Believer a listen. If you’d like to learn more about Angela Autumn and her creative process, check out a WFHB interview with her here.
