The moniker of South American-made but London-based Brittney Jenkins, Pisgah offers a discography teeming with insatiable alt-rock cuts that are equal parts wistful and evocative.
Following on from the gentle notes veined throughout 'Cumulonimbus' and the grungier '90s offering 'Favor', her latest release, 'Bend to Break', follows an introspective narrative of self-realisation and the accompanying utter devastation ("now there’s nothing here for you").
Plucked from Pisgah's upcoming record ('Faultlines', slated for release December 4th), sonically, 'Bend to Break' champions alt-rock intonations through delicate guitar lines and steadfast percussion, as lush vocals are allowed to take the forefront.
Inspirations such as Aimme Mann and Emma Ruth Rundle here are evident, as Pigsah delivers a genre-blending ode to both classic American folk and wistful Alice Phoebe Lou-esque soundscapes.
Speaking on the release, Jenkins confesses this is one of her favourite releases to date, and that "I didn’t have a lot of examples of healthy, stable relationships around me when I was growing up and you can hear it in this song. This song is partially me putting myself in the shoes of my parents before they divorced, and partially me reflecting on why I needed to put an entire ocean between myself and where I come from".
Steeped in embracing alternative perspectives, emotive lyrics paint vivid narratives ("How light the leaving feels and how much heavier the weight / That finally pushed you out the door"), 'Bend to Break' bespeaks Pisgah's exemplary songwriting abilities - particularly when subjects are shrouded in bittersweet nostalgia. Despite the despondent-leaning lyrics, the track "isn't hopeless", as Jenkins pursues to uncover a steady middle ground between heart-wrenching reflection and self-introversion, to stave off her inner turmoil.
Overtly more folk in nature than its predecessors, 'Bend to Break' proves its place as part of a bigger, varied, and enticing project.
Lana Williams
@lanatakesphotos / @_lanaajade
Image: George Chapman