Briana Marela shares ‘Surrender’ from new album ‘All Around Us’

Briana Marela is a Washington songwriter who’s set to follow up a couple of head-turning self-releases with her debut on Jagjaguwar.

‘All Around Us’ is released on 21st August, and it was recorded in Iceland with Sigur Rós producer Alex Somers. The Scandinavian air’s had a big impact on her recordings. What was previously expiatory and star-gazing has taken off into another dimension altogether. The outside world and nature in full bloom circuit the record, particularly on lead track ‘Surrender’, which gives in to the open air.

We spoke to Marela about her latest work and how she started writing songs - read the interview below a stream of ‘Surrender’.

You started writing your first release in 2008 - how have things progressed since ‘Water Ocean Lake’?

I wrote and recorded that cassette release while I was still in college, when I had access to amazing recording facilities at The Evergreen State College. Since that album my songs have progressed to lean toward a more pop aesthetic, though I plan on releasing a more ambient instrumental album someday, whether it is through a label or self-released.

The songs on ‘All Around Us’ are intimate and honest. Has it always been easy for you to write this way, and how do you go about it?

I suppose you could call it easy… I use my songwriting as a way to express emotions I would otherwise have trouble expressing. I don’t really know any other way… I’ve always been a bit shy so making music has been my main outlet of trying to be bold.

What kind of places do you get inspiration from specifically?

I love being by water and trees, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and being close to the nature here has been a huge influence to my way of viewing and understanding the world around me. I could never live somewhere not on the coast. More than physical places though I’m mostly inspired by people and my relationships with them.

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