Anterra Releases Debut Album "These Things Take Time": Behind the Inspiration of her Latest Studio Work.

The day has finally arrived. Just a few weeks ago, the eagerly awaited release of 'Art Of Orbit' left us all stunned and eager to learn more about this talented artist and the surprises her new album, 'These Things Take Time', would bring.

However, the high anticipation generated by the release of what marks her first official studio album has been making waves long before. Anterra is one of those musicians with a unique artistic sensitivity, one who pays attention to the smallest detail. She has been unveiling new previews of her work with every full moon, bringing amazing compositions such as "Brittle" in April, "Lunar Days" in May, and finally "Art Of Orbit" in June 2024, a song we had the pleasure of experiencing here at Bad Wolf Records. (Click here to read the full review of "Art Of Orbit")

Characterised by its mysticism, introspection, dreamy melodies, and experimental musical elements, Anterra's album aims not only to offer a beautiful amalgamation of sounds and harmonies that will penetrate deep into your emotions, but also a complete auditory experience; a sensory delight that transports listeners to a new sonic dimension, promising to move even the most discerning of audiences.

Through eight majestic tracks, "These Things Take Time" guides listeners on an intense journey of self-discovery, through beautiful melodies and highly emotive themes that linger in the mind and soul long after experiencing the album in its entirety. The skillful sequence of each track and its particular order, akin to chapters of a story, creates an incredible level of connection with the audience that can even become addictive. The artist's personal experiences and life stories that breathe life into this project resonate deeply and universally, making this album feel like the soundtrack that accompanies the journey of your own life through its ups and downs.

In this article, we will explore what lies behind this amazing piece of work and the inspiration that brought this creation to life. But before we delve deeper, we must introduce those who may not yet be familiar with Anterra and her music. So, we invite you to sit back, get comfortable, prepare a cup of coffee, and keep reading to learn more about her career as an artist.

About the Artist

Anterra is a talented singer, songwriter, guitarist, and violinist with a distinctive and evocative sound: ethereal and softly psychedelic. Her powerful and crystalline vocals, combined with a poetic and emotionally focused approach to songwriting, evoke artists such as AURORA, Florence and the Machine, Weyes Blood, Marika Hackman, Enya, The Cranberries, Cocteau Twins, Jeff Buckley, Jefferson Airplane, and Joni Mitchell.

Peter Stone's virtuosic and dreamy lead guitar and Cale Hawkins' masterful, reflective synthesizer production and composition perfectly complement her unique sound, creating an ethereal, moving, and captivating sonic landscape.

About the Release

These Things Take Time unwinds along a spiralic narrative arc, following the protagonist’s growth outward from her place of origin and a naive perspective, toward acceptance in the realms of love, loss, family, society, circumstance and self. Hard-won, these things take time indeed.

The first track on the album “Lunar Days” sets the stage for this unraveling that unfolds across the album’s 8 tracks -- it poetically and lovingly tells the listener that it is both good and necessary to retreat into periods of personal processing and reinvention, stating “When the clouds do break, please be kind, it was not wasted time. Divinity in the remaking of you.” Although the sonic landscape Anterra paints across the album is hypnotic and touching, it is the potency of the underlying lyrics that gives the album its power. A deeper and deeper dive into Anterra’s lyrics continually yields more layers of meaning and medicine. Through the songs, Anterra invites listeners to contemplate their own journeys of transformation, at once challenging and comforting them through her meditations on introspection, existentialism, vulnerability and resilience, isolation and connection, acceptance and letting go.

"I hope for these songs to serve as a relief valve for our collective grief, to serve as potent and cathartic medicine for others as they have been for me.”

Anterra (Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist)

In-Depth Analysis

Beginning with a truly dazzling start, the album opens with "Lunar Days," a musical piece that immediately stands out for its warm and colourful guitar arpeggios intertwined with the deep sound of sustained violin notes. This was a very assertive decision by the artist, as this track has already been officially released for two months, creating a sense of familiarity with her loyal fan base and also providing a friendly introduction for new listeners.

Given that it is a piece with a highly dynamic structure, it allows for a general overview of its vocal and instrumental dynamism. However, at this point, things are about to become much more complex. Tracks like "Static" and "Desert Garden" have a much more suspenseful aura, where musical experimentation begins to gradually emerge and their lyrics start to feel much more personal, thus creating room for a meditative space that draws listeners into an inevitable path of self-reflection and search for meaning.

The significant presence of existential themes in this album is not necessarily an exploited or central aspect, but rather it is presented organically, reflecting the natural manifestation of the constant questioning we experience throughout our lives. It is something we often overlook due to its complexity and our inability to comprehend its meaning amidst our lives. However, Anterra spontaneously captures it, aligning with this inherent manifestation of spiritual questioning. If you pay attention to her lyrics, which make multiple references to elements of nature, you will start to realize that the answers we seek are all around us.

However, starting from track 5 "Sedimentary" and track 6 "Art of Orbit," this sense of relentless search of purpose and meaning, manages to balance itself with a dose of quotidian elements and lived experiences. This is also reflected in more percussive compositions, with "Brittle" serving as the perfect transition between these two perspectives, thereby providing greater narrative and evolutionary sustainment to the album.

A surprising turn takes place when we reach "End Of Time," as both the instrumental work and its lyrical background take on a much more nostalgic tone. Here is where new instruments are also incorporated, adding new nuances and colours, such as the striking sound of the electric guitar in the hands of Peter Stone with a spectacular reverb effect. This guitar enters in short, intermittent bursts, as if trying to establish a kind of conversation with Anterra's magical voice, only to later assert itself masterfully towards its culmination. Together, they symbiotically converge to finally achieve that longed-for search for meaning and belonging, which arrives hand-in-hand with "Willow Tree."

This final track possesses a unique characteristic, creating the perfect conclusion to this intense auditory journey by reflecting a sentiment with which we all are familiar: feeling at home. We know well that home is not necessarily where you reside, but where you feel fulfilled and calm. Even if this place is not perfect at times, it's where we can feel safe. "Willow Tree" captures this sensation in a way that allows listeners to relive that feeling of well-being, which may sometimes feel distant, especially when we may feel lost or unsure how to find our way back. It functions as a brilliant light guiding us home.

From a vocal interpretation that feels much freer, where Anterra incorporates numerous vocal techniques, including surprising double-tempo verses, both her voice and her intention feel immensely different. It's as if a sense of comfort with herself and enjoyment has permeated her, conveying this to the audience in every verse. She tells us about how she has finally found fulfillment, appreciating the small details that life gives us, learning to let go of things that cause harm, and above all, accepting our limitations as something natural and even positive. This reveals a beautiful process of emotional evolution and maturity from which we can all constantly learn.

With this album, Anterra not only opens up her deepest emotions and feelings to her audience, revealing an intimate side of herself and sharing her life experiences as something from which we can draw strength and inspiration. She also demonstrates her versatility and technical skill as a composer, proving that folk as a genre is incredibly adaptable and can blend seamlessly with other styles when approached with a deep and holistic understanding of music. While experiments within this genre abound, this album is undeniably one of those successful ones, resulting in a unique piece that deserves to be cherished and protected as the true gem that it is.

If you have enjoyed this article and also this beautiful album, we recommend following Anterra on her social media channels to stay updated on her latest news and upcoming releases. Additionally, we extend a warm invitation to all music enthusiasts in our community to explore Anterra's complete discography by clicking on the following >link<.