We came across the Bergen-based drea (Andrea Ådland) twice last year; an EP in April followed by a single in November and the EP track ‘Let Go’ easily got her a spot in NMC’s Songs of the Year listing.
(That isn’t ‘Let it go’ by the way, it’s quite different to the Disney epic but in its own way every bit as good).
We were impressed by her songs about life as it is; her almost painful honesty, intimacy, authenticity, smart lyricism and the way she easily channels big name artists like Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple without ever losing her own identity.
And like those artists she isn’t shy of baring her soul.
Previously she’s sung about what frustrates and annoys her and being a loser and this time out she is just as maudlin with her first single of the year, ‘Bedroom Safe House’, which as that title suggests deals with how fear and anxiety can bring on a panic attack even in the room that we usually feel the safest in once the childhood obsession of creatures living under the bed has abated.
And she takes the concept a stage further when she says, “It’s about how fear and insecurity can limit us, and how even the safety we create through isolation can crack, letting anxiety and negative thoughts creep in.”
This is the second song about isolation and its adverse impact on the sufferer that we’ve had this week and I wonder whether this is some sort of post-pandemic catharsis making its way to the surface.
She’s aware that the isolation is trapping her, not only physically but spiritually but in an intriguing line states that while she recognises she’s “missing out on everything” she won’t be moving anywhere unless someone moves her, which you could interpret in many ways, one of them I suppose as a comment on how financial circumstances are keeping many young people stuck with their parents much longer than they used to.
It is difficult to believe drea has only been on the scene for a year or so. She sounds like a seasoned, careworn artist (I hope that doesn’t put her off!)
drea will embark on a short, debut European tour from 2nd February, calling in at London for two dates on the 15th and 16th. See her Facebook page for details. Unfortunately they are the only UK dates for now.
Find her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.aadland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreadreamusic
