Making her inimitable mark on alt-pop, Hanna Andréa’s highly anticipated EP Braveheart traces the blurred edges of becoming – a cinematic meditation on moving through a world that refuses to pause, where time accelerates and the search for meaning, identity and direction becomes increasingly elusive.
The soaring Norwegian-American artist – who also impressively penned the soundtrack for a Shakespeare-inspired pop musical at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe – explores ambition, self-acceptance, distraction and the pressure to constantly keep up, wrapping it all in atmospheric melodies that feels both effortlessly contemporary and subtly nostalgic.
Opening with the sickly-sweet “GET OFF YOUR PHONE,” Andréa switches her usual introspection for something playful and punchy and pure fun. Guitar-led and reminiscent of late-’90s and early-2000s pop-rock, the track takes aim at our screen-obsessed culture without becoming preachy. Its catchy refrain carries a simple message: look up, be present, and notice what’s actually happening around you.
‘Pinnacles‘ moves gradually into dreamier territory, capturing the uneasy feeling of chasing success while wondering whether you’re falling behind. Andréa’s soft vocals and hazy production make it one of the EP’s most affecting moments, while ‘Float‘ and the illustrious ‘ICU’ introduces darker trip-hop textures and a more intimate, atmospheric sound.
Creating a grand finale, the title track ‘Braveheart‘ closes the EP on its most theatrical note. Piano and sweeping orchestration give it the scale of a breathtaking coming-of-age film, while Andréa reflects on the importance of embracing imperfection rather than trying to live up to impossible expectations.
What makes the collection impressionable is Andréa’s endearing instinct for storytelling. Her background in theatre is evident in the dramatic arrangements and sense of narrative, while her willingness to glide seamlessly between pop-rock, dream-pop and cinematic balladry keeps the EP wonderfully engaging.
Thoughtful, melodic and distinctly atmospheric, ‘Braveheart’ proves Andréa is still becoming – and that’s what makes this so compelling.