Rising alt pop-rock sensation Anabl pays ode to her experiences and expectations of her teen years on debut EP Running on Empty, a collection of six tracks chronicling the desires, dreams and disappointments from ages 15 to 18 that feels like a relatable coming-of-age tale.
Opening with “Homecoming Queen,” with minimal guitar instrumentation, soft beats and her laid-back vocal delivery, the Australia-born musician captures themes that most teens might be able to relate, balancing overwhelming self-doubt with doses of self-confidence.
Anabl showcases her ability her versatility by sweeping from groovy rock stylings on “Mom’s Chevy,” to dream pop number “Lotus,” which indicates her raw potential for song writing beyond her young age of nineteen, her melodic lilt delivering empowering lyricism, “You’re on my doorstep with daisies / They smell of cigarettes and mistakes / Shows how little you thought of me / Cause that door won’t be opening.”
The warm acoustic guitar-led “Second,” delves into the heartache of caring for someone who has hurt you, with melancholic pianos infusing a good side of teenage melodrama into a vulnerable message.
“Remnants,” is an understated highlight on the EP with moody beats elevated by her ethereal voice, echoes of a backing vocal giving us goosebumps. Final track “ Frenchboy,” weaves a slightly foreboding vibe that has yearning for the feel-good senses of the earlier tracks on the EP, yet allowing us to embrace our anxieties within its monotone beats.
At only 19, the LA-based act manages to highlight her penchant for poetic song writing alongside her ability to craft emotive soundscapes on the collection, which refers to as a “soundtrack of her life,” giving us a glimpse of the sonic anchor that kept Anabl grounded when everything else around her changed.
