Jennie Arnau Rides The Wave Of Grief In New Album, “A Rising Tide”
On an emotional journey to find peace– Jennie Arnau’s comeback album, “A Rising Tide”, transforms grief into healing. Weaving through 14 songs, Arnau delivers an introspective work that examines loss, fear, love, and all the in betweens. Here she blends sounds of Americana-folk, a genre so in tune with the universality of emotions, to call on the things buried deep within. Allowing listeners to not only process their own feelings but also release them.
The album, released on November 7, is the latest body of music since her 2009 alternative country album, “Chasing Giants.” Arnau, who took a step back from recording following her mother’s diagnosis with dementia, is now using songwriting to work through the pain of her mother’s passing. And, with the encouragement of friends, “A Rising Tide” brought Arnau back to joy.
In a release to the press, she stated, “I decided they might be right. I realized I wanted to hear the songs that mean so much to me, that carry so many memories, and are filled with so much love, played by my chosen family. I realized I needed to share this experience with those who have supported me through all my highs and lows.”
The album opens with “Oceans Rise,” which, despite having an optimistic beat, takes on the raw ache Arnau carries within her. She repeats throughout the chorus, “And every time I try, To turn this wreck around, The oceans rise up, And drag me back down.” The song acknowledges how overwhelming things can get, but challenges listeners to face it, to ride the wave, and try to stay afloat. “Countryman” shifts into a more carefree tune with its fun, wind in your hair rhythm that talks about just wanting to get out and travel– specifically with a countryman. It’s the perfect roadtrip song that encapsulates driving through the country and a nod to her previous music in the western genre. “Back to Carolina,” a later song, is also a kind of traveling tune but feels more bittersweet in that it touches on the different meanings of “home” and what you make of it.
“Mabel” is a classic name-titled song that beautifully describes really seeing someone, flaws and all, recognizing their unique humanness and taking it all in.
“Sail Away” is a daydream-like melody that talks about making peace with the past in order to grow towards the future. The image of “sailing away” from the past, and everything that keeps us from progressing, paints a peaceful picture to the very daunting act of letting go. Arnau sings, “Don’t you know tomorrows, Never last,” this acceptance allowing for a necessary pause, one where instead of rushing away, you sit with that uncomfortable feeling until it’s really gone.
“Hold On,” which comes later in the album, points to similar themes, holding on for too long and realizing “The sun’s gonna set, and the wind’s gonna change, and the child’s gonna cry, and your heart will break.”
With a strong guitar and lyrics that reach out like an embrace, “One if by Land” is a song that gracefully captures the feeling of trying so hard to reach for someone who can no longer hold on. Arnau shared in a press release that she attributes the song to the phone call she realized her mother was drifting away from her. She stated, “It scared me so much because that’s the moment I knew she was going–that was that. There was no turning back.”
“Young & Alone” takes a turn by slowing down the tempo to address the gun violence crisis plaguing schools and children across the United States. Here, Arnau places the intensity of knowing how much life children have yet to live under a magnifying glass, while also capturing the fear of that being stolen in an instant. Calling out the broken system that leaves young victims feeling “alone”, she sings, “Evidence of the violence left under the table, I don’t think I’m able to smile that way again.” Pointing to the preventable occurrences that strip children of their safety and innocence.
“Better Luck Next Time” feels nostalgic and harps on the shifting tides within society and the uncertainty of finding a secure footing. Wrapping the album up with “Sunshine”, Arnau finally sails away and feels the breeze above the pain. The shift from her voice and guitar carrying the first half of the song to the band coming in towards the end calls for a new beginning. One of optimism, change, and of course, sunshine.
Arnau’s “A Rising Tide” is etched with emotional complexity, offering the different stages of grief and love persevering in the form of song. What makes this album strong is it’s no one gets left behind mentality. Arnau’s voice, full of freedom, sings to the living experience by showing the interconnectedness of emotion, which goes hand in hand with her own journey. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Arnau is pulling from her own life in activism and search for compassion, she stated in a press release, “I just hope that somebody finds a little bit of solace, and they understand that none of us are in it alone.” In “A Rising Tide,” everyone has the chance to be seen by her “Sunshine” and bask in its warmth.
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