Annabel Gutherz – Saturn’s Rings

By starrymag | July 25, 2023

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) After much sonic exploration, I have finally found a sound that feels emblematic of who I am today! The new sound I will be ushering in with my new music is a hybrid of pop-rock from the late 1970s with contemporary synthetic elements.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Right now, my strongest musical influences include Fleetwood Mac, Lizzy McAlpine and the soundtrack from “Daisy Jones & The Six.” Other musical influences I love to draw upon include David Bowie, Carole King, Alicia Keys, Conan Gray and Taylor Swift, just to name a few!

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Saturn’s Rings.”

 

A) “Saturn’s Rings” is about not being able to move on from an ex, and being enveloped by your thoughts and feelings for them despite the time that has passed.

 

Q) This is your third single with an intergalactic theme. Is there something about space that captivates you?

 

A) Funny you should ask! I wanted to be an astronaut for the briefest moment when I was seven years old. While that dream was very (*very*) short-lived, my fascination with space lingered. The galaxy feels so infinite, and I see the complexion of emotions in a similar way. Both are infinitely complex and require great exploration, which is why I was adamant about using an intergalactic theme and spatial semantics in my more theatrical music!

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song “Saturn’s Rings” that fans connect to?

 

A) Fans are really connecting to the lyrics of the song and to the push-and-pull dynamic of the production, which is really reflective of the ups and downs we experience in the aftermath of a breakup.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) I think the video punctuates the solitude expressed in the lyrics of the song and also helps create ambiance with the ambiguous, spatial-looking setting where it was filmed. A big shoutout to Sean Dubé of Nomad Media and Tom McNamara who were instrumental in putting together the live video! They’re such proficient cinematographers and I am so fortunate to have worked with them on this project.

 

Q) What is your songwriting process like? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) Lately, I’ve been looping samples (music) to write lyrics and melodies, but my songwriting process changes from song to song. Sometimes I’ll have a lyric before a melody idea, a melody before a lyric or a lyric and corresponding melody will occur simultaneously!

 

Q) Bleu McAuley lent a hand with production on “Saturn’s Rings,” but how much say do you have with the production side of your music?

 

A) I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Bleu McAuley on this song and to experience his masterful artistry in such an intimate way. I am usually quite meticulous when it comes to the production of my music, and work alongside the producer to ensure we have the same sonic vision. I typically go through sounds I like, instruments and elements I want to incorporate and references we can use in building each song’s production. The process is certainly an iterative one and I like to be a part of it every note of the way!

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

 

A) Absolutely! I’m hopeful I will have a full album released in 2024. We’ll be splashing back down to earth with a whole new sound for this forthcoming body of work!

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) Two of my dream places to perform are the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada and the Verona Amphitheatre in Verona, Italy. My hometown is Montreal, and I grew up attending shows and watching my musical heroes shine on the Bell Centre stage. Performing in front of a home crowd and on a stage that housed so many of my inspirations would certainly be a dream come true! Also, I had the opportunity to see
“Aida,” an opera, at the Verona Amphitheatre many years ago, and sitting in such a historical coliseum under a sky full of stars was a magical and indelible experience. I would love to experience an evening as enchanting and as special as that one was once more, but this time from the vantage of the stage!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) There are so many artists I would love to collaborate with in the future. One artist, in particular, I would be honored to write with is Amy Allen. She is at the forefront of some of today’s most popular music and her musical craftsmanship is both remarkable and inspiring!

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) Although they are a fictional band, I have been streaming “Daisy Jones & The Six’s” album “Aurora” on repeat since it was released! It harnesses some of my favorite sounds from the 1970s and was written/pioneered by Blake Mills. Three of my favorite songs from the record include “Let Me Down Easy,” “Look at Us Now (Honeycomb),” and “The River.” Another song that I’ve been listening to is “Snow Angel” by Reneé Rapp. The lyricism is so poignant, the soundscape is so theatrical and nuanced, and her voice is just breathtaking!

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Social media enables me to communicate and connect with my fans and different audiences directly, which is why it is so important. I love being able to foster more meaningful connections in a personal way, which is precisely what social media allows me to do.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I want to thank them each profusely from the bottom of my heart for making this dream a possibility for me, and for connecting with the songs in the ways they have! I am immeasurably grateful and so excited to be working toward my sophomore album and can’t wait to share it with them!