Music has always been the passion in Brooke Annibale‘s life. It comes as no surprise, then, that the 23-year-old just released her third full-length album. An impressive LP, Silence Worth Breaking, debuted this spring and continues to put the Pittsburgh based singer-songwriter on the map. With smooth vocals and thoughtful lyrics, her music is bound to get stuck in your head.
Songs like the emotional “Under Streetlights” are relatable. While her familiar vocals draw the listener in, it is the impressive musical landscape that keeps one’s attention. Strong guitar parts and percussion add to Annibale’s singing style, but never overpower it.
Singing about love, life, and loss, Annibale holds a certain wisdom unprecedented for her age. At times, her raspy and earthy singing style give slight reminiscence to Brandi Carlile while comparisons to John Mayer’s “smoky” quality have also been made. Fittingly, on “Empathy” she sings “I just can’t be someone I’m not” with soaring electric guitar reminiscent to that of Mayer at the fadeout of the song.
While her whispered vocals are familiar to that of Priscilla Ahn and Meiko on tracks like “Feels Like Home,” Brooke offers something fresh with her personal and relatable lyrics. With additional string accompaniment, the song strikes a chord.
Silence Worth Breaking was produced by Paul Moak (Third Day, Jennifer Knapp, Matthew Mayfield, Mat Kearney) in Nashville, Tennessee. After working with Brooke in the studio Moak said, “Brooke Annibale is an artist of true depth both as a writer and a performer. Her ability to draw you in with that voice is equally matched by what she has to say once you are there.”
I couldn’t agree more. Annibale’s emotion fueled vocals captivate the listener, begging him to hit that repeat button. Watch Annibale perform “Under the Streetlights” below and for more, be sure to visit her Web site.
Echo Chamber: Brooke Annibale / Under Streetlights from Draw Us Lines on Vimeo.