They say the best thing you can write about is what scares you the most and to write the heck out of it. For Prince Edward Island alternative pop-folk artist Brielle Ansems, it seems that the scariest of possibilities is adulthood. Her new single, “25 (Still Awake)”, is a cautionary tale for anyone entering their third decade.
Brielle Ansems is not what we’d call a sunshine and rainbows artist. Her subject matter frequently leans into the darker corners of life, despite an upbeat sound with a bittersweetness that feels like Alanis Morissette needed to sign off on it. Her previous single, “Hillsborough Bridge” focused on suicidal ideation and her upcoming sophomore album—for which “25 (Still Awake)” gives both its title and backbone—explores the “nuances of anxiety and depression.”
That being said, there’s an unquestionable beauty to Ansems’ music; a beauty in the struggle, some might say. And that struggle is only ever half the story, the other half being a celebration of resilience and enduring hope.
“Life in your twenties is tough,” explains Ansems. “There are all these adult expectations and no instruction manual. It’s like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box to guide you. The comfort for me came in realizing so many of my peers feel the same way. We’re all just fumbling through the darkness looking for the next pocket of sunshine.”
Recorded at The Hill Sound Studio in Charlottetown, with engineer/mixer/producer Adam Gallant, “25 (Still Awake)” also features the playing of Brielle’s brother and guitarist Dylan Ansems, bassist Evan McCosham, drummer Kirk White, violinist Jasmine Michel, and organist Ben Aitken.
“I have never loved my band so much as I do on this track. Their talent blows me away, and it was all so beautifully mixed. It’s an upbeat sound that most people probably aren’t used to hearing from me, but I really wanted to leave people with a sense of optimism and community. It’s been a tough time for so many, and after acknowledging the hurt, I wanted to acknowledge the healing.”
Brielle Ansems’ sophomore release, Still Awake, is expected to be released in January of 2022.