I ❤️ Vulnerable + Confessional Storytelling (Issue #101)
With both soul-baring breakup ballads and upbeat anthems for blasting on a drive, “Catharsis” arrives just in time for summer!
Hi friends!
A few years back, I had the pleasure of meeting Anna Houston when she hired me to photograph her wedding. Not only was she a dream client, but she’s also a wildly talented independent musician whose work has stuck with me ever since. I’ve sung her praises before, and if you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you might remember her sharing some of her favorite recs in a past edition of So Obsessed (scroll to the middle to find her feature!). Today, I’m thrilled to bring her back into the spotlight for an even bigger reason: Anna just released her debut album!!
Aptly titled Catharsis, it’s an album worth listening to front to back. Anna is my favorite kind of singer-songwriter—the type of artist you can trust to deliver memorable lyrics, confessional storytelling, and a killer vocal performance on every track. On Catharis, each song lives in its own world, giving space to complex feelings of love, loss, and regret that most of us try to keep hidden. Make no mistake — Anna’s vulnerability is this album’s greatest triumph.
Catharsis opens with the title track, perhaps working as a thesis for the rest of the album. The song opens with Anna belting the chorus right from the jump: “I think I loved you back then // Please don’t say it back yeah // I’m happier now regardless // But I needed this catharsis.” The sound is nostalgic, with driving drums and a guitar part that brings me back to pop punk bands of my youth. It’s fitting for a song that is grappling with such a specific yet universal post-breakup feeling. It’s that tension point where you don’t want the relationship back, but you still feel unresolved and unseen in its ending. The relationship is over, it’s a good thing, but what are we supposed to do with those final lingering feelings? What are we supposed to do with the anger, grief, betrayal, sadness, and even love that continue to echo even after we’ve discernibly moved on? Catharsis is Anna’s answer.
But this isn’t just an album about heartbreak. Because after a breakup comes a stubborn and hopeful determination to try again with a new love. Anna’s lyricism really shines on tracks like “Valdez” (“They say we’re a couple of kids // That’s what we aim for”) and “Strawberry Legs” (“I get the feeling that I’m home // But I’ve never been to this part of town”), in which she so succinctly describes the exciting yet secure feeling of falling in love with the right person.
Perhaps my favorite song is “Blocked on Everything,” a stand-out in a collection of exceptionally strong songs. Anna takes her time after a number of upbeat tracks, slowing everything down for a piano ballad. The song is written like a letter she knows she’ll never send, painting a relatable picture of what it feels like to truly sit in the “after” of a once-painful breakup:
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On my first album listen-through, I messaged Anna to tell her how much I loved “Blocked on Everything.” “I almost left that song off the album!” she replied. And I get it, it’s an incredibly vulnerable song, but that really is where Anna is at her best. Her unflinching honesty is admirable, and it has helped her make some really incredible art.
Anna is an independent artist, so she’s running without the massive marketing support often given to label-signed artists. As an independent media creator myself, I know firsthand just how difficult this can be. Word of mouth and social media are powerful tools, especially for independent artists, and Anna has made full use of them.
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Leading up to the album’s release, Anna shared some really great behind-the-scenes content, including an acoustic preview of her song “This Won’t Be Where it Ends,” a process video on the making of her album artwork, and a first draft recording of her song “Jones.” I love this peek into how Anna is making it work as an independent artist, and I’m so inspired by her entire creative process.
Catharsis really is the perfect album for summer, and my homework for you is to go listen to it ASAP!! If you want to go a step further in supporting Anna and her work, share the album with a friend! Post your fave song on your stories, or even use Anna’s prompt to make your own TikTok video to her song “17”:
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And once you’ve done all that, Anna has one last thing you need to check out!
She’s making playlists inspired by every song on Catharsis!! You can listen to the first one now, inspired by her song “Valdez”:
Make sure to stream Catharsis on your preferred platform, and keep up with Anna and her future releases on Instagram and TikTok.
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Hulu: Tell Me Lies
This show is soooo addicting! Each season explores a different year in the lives of two people whose relationship unfolds over an 8-year period from 2007 to 2015. There are two seasons out so far, so it’s the perfect time to catch up!
Podcast: The Campus Files
Recently added to my to-listen list, this podcast uncovers the darker side of college campuses. Each episode tells a different story, “exploring everything from rigged admissions to sports scandals, free speech, and hazing.” I’m excited to check it out!
CNBC: Net worth of millennials has quadrupled: Why some call it ‘phantom wealth’ by Jessica Dickler
In recent years, millennials have accumulated more wealth than previous generations did at the same age. So why don’t many millennials consider themselves wealthy? This article dives into the concept of “phantom wealth,” examining the factors that make so many millennials feel like they’re still coming up short.
A reflection + action for your week. Compete on your own or with friends – I dare ya!
Truth - What song brings you back to a time in your life that has passed? What does that time feel/look/sound like? Do you hear the song differently now than you did back then? Where do you remember listening to this song? Write down as many memories and reflections as you can.
Dare - Ask each of your friends to send a song that reminds them of you. Compile all the tracks into one playlist for a unique collage of how your friends see you. <3
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
I recently added *An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Young to my collection, and I’ve loved it so far! The few pages I’ve read are well written and engaging, and don’t get me started on the fabulous pictures throughout. *A young readers’ edition of the book is coming out on May 13th, so snag one for the little in your life!
My nephew turned three a few months ago, and I gifted him *this kid-friendly digital camera so he could be a photographer just like me! The camera is super durable and includes a real memory card, so the photos can be transferred to your computer. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see photos like these ones.
On the theme of kids’ gifts, I bought the unicorn version of *this backpack for my niece’s second birthday, and she refused to take it off after it came in the mail. So, snag one if you want to be the cool aunt. 😎
Last Friday, I celebrated 100 editions of Sincerely, Celisia, complete with a roundup of my most popular issues and recommendations! Check it out below:
Have a great weekend!
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