Peter Oren contemplates identity and history on ‘Falling Water’

With his new album ‘Anthropocene’ arriving on 10th November via Western Vinyl, Indiana-born singer-songwriter Peter Oren has already given us a taste of what to expect with the title track.

Now he’s shared another cut from the record, ‘Falling Water’. It’s been inspired by his hometown of Columbus, contemplating its name and the fact that it’s also the birthplace of America’s current Vice President, Mike Pence. It leads Oren to working through the frustration of confusion surrounding American history more widely.

Speaking about the track, Peter said: “‘Falling Water’ alludes to a poem by Wendell Berry called ‘The Real Work’. In it Berry wonders if confusion and troubles mark the ‘real’ challenges of our lives, and he offers a somewhat uplifting perspective: ‘The impeded stream is the one that sings’.”

“Coming from Columbus, Indiana, I have struggled with having a hometown that embodies America’s poorly white-washed history of genocide and racism. In either attempted escape or pursuit of breathing room, I’ve wandered and tossed myself around (often gone in circles) and sought a place to settle, like a steep stream. Somewhere in the process I wrote this song”.

In October, Peter is set to play at Mirrors Festival in London, and then he’ll be setting out on a tour of the UK and Ireland with Angelo de Augustine. Tickets are on sale now.

Listen to ‘Falling Water’ and see Peter’s upcoming UK tour dates below.