Norway’s independent artist and producer Marianne Engebretsen has recently released one of her most vulnerable and affecting works to date, ‘A Normal After This’. This track was inspired by a move from the city to the countryside, a transition which evokes contrast, change and a certain dazed disorientation. It’s very much about how moving forward might seem positive on the surface, but there are those undercurrents of uncertainty and anxiety that come with any significant change.
Engebretsen adds some essential context as she recalls the motivation behind the move: “I never imagined that breaking up in adulthood could feel so defining. I know who I am, but suddenly everything had to be rebuilt in a way. This song feels like a new chapter in my music.”
This quiet yet courageous reckoning with loss and renewal is conveyed through a subtly cinematic production, cresting art-pop melodies and the artist’s vulnerable vocals. It’s undeniably intimate, making the journey from heartache to acceptance so utterly relatable and authentic. Moving through gentle percussion, textured guitars and layered harmonies, Engebretsen has created a soundscape that is determined without urgency; she gives her emotions the grace of time.
Co-produced with Thomas Engebretsen, the track’s arrangement is a fine balance between organic alt-pop warmth and subtle indie-rock grit. This more raw, trembling and, in some ways, less refined approach is a vital evolution from the artist’s earlier pop-centered records Redefined and Something New. What we have here is a songwriter finding her true voice; that human element makes ‘A Normal After This’ stand out amidst a sea of polished perfection.
You can also listen to ‘A Normal After This’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
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