TRACK REVIEW: Anna Pancaldi - Peace

TRACK REVIEW:

Anna Pancaldi

Peace

9.5/10

The track, Peace, is available via:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6X0GG8hBMOimNSq5a0CnjA?si=IFxhdMTNQ32e_w38DZBsqA

GENRES:

Pop/Indie

ORIGIN:

London, U.K.

RELEASE DATE:

19th October, 2018

_________

THIS time around…

there are a few things I want to cover and explore. Anna Pancaldi is an artist I have been watching for a while and I have seen her career develop. I want to talk about musicians who develop and sounds that are varied; those who can get attention from a variety of sources and have that width; getting your music played in the U.S. and on T.V. shows; those who can go a long way and succeed in a tough industry; where Pancaldi might go and what she can achieve. It has been an exciting last year or two for Anna Pancaldi. I have watched her bloom and blossom and she is establishing herself as one of the best young talents around. You get artists who stick with the same sound and can be quite rigid. That is good if you have a golden sound and have established yourself in that niche. What strikes me about some is that they cannot see any reason to push what they do and evolve. Pancaldi started strongly and came into the industry with a bold and accomplished sense of herself but she has grown and developed since then. She is someone who has gained backing and fan support but is keen to investigate new areas and she how she can go. Soulful and heartfelt songs like Brother and Keep on Keeping On set the bar and showed us what Pancaldi was capable of. What I’ve Become was and is a bolder song that takes things in an Indie-Rock direction. Peace is another step and development that incorporates the more Rock-inspired vibes of her recent work and adds in Soul and Pop. It is a complex brew that keeps her core and foundations strong but brings in new elements. I love songwriters who take risks and do not stick with the same sounds. Changing things up and widening your horizons is a great way of winning new fans and keeping your material fresh.

The reason why Anna Pancaldi is evolving and looking at new areas of sound is because she is a curious artist. What amazes me is how she can go between genres and switch sounds and keep her personality intact. You know every song is from her and it has that distinct stamp. I see this soulful and spirited dynamic come into the music and it means Pancaldi is steps above many of her peers. A lot of the new music I get sent tends to be quite calm and unadventurous. You know a songwriter is trying to be passionate and personal but the music is somewhat unengaging and unambitious. Pancaldi gets off the blocks but always ensures every note and suggestion is meaningful. She takes care to bring her words to life and write sensational compositions. The way you grow your fanbase and get under the skin is because you keep taking risks and pushing things. Maybe ‘risks’ is not the word for it: perhaps ‘evolution’ is a better one. Every songwriter starts out with an impression of what they want to create and how they want to sound. They are inspired by artists they grow up around and love and then, you’d hope, they stretch and expand. They might retain some of that older sound but then they get out of that mindset and put their personality down. Too many artists are unwilling to step forward and do what is required. Maybe it is a fear of losing fans or not being able to fit into the mainstream. I do not know what it is but I am always drawn to those who keep things moving and change between songs. Pancaldi started out with a distinct and impressive sound and now, a little way down the line, she has grown and introduced new colours. I wonder where she will go next and how things will change. Every move she makes and every song she writes has its own look and you can sense this songwriter unwilling to stand still and repeat what came before.

I am also draw to those whose music seems to attract different radio stations. I am a big fan of BBC Radio 6 Music but feel it is hard for artists to get attention from a different variety of sources. Many artists can get play from BBC Radio 6 Music but it can be difficult getting that same focus from BBC Radio 2. There are some who can take that even further and get focus from BBC Radio 1. Anna Pancaldi has been played by some of the biggest stations out there and it is not a pitch for commercial success. I can tell some artists deliberately write a way so they can appeal to these stations but, for Pancaldi, this is natural. She is not an artist who is Pop-obsessed and pitches to a certain demographic. Whatever she puts onto the page has that wide-ranging appeal and variation. She can attract and entice those who want a more mature and emotive song but also get into the minds of the cooler and more youthful audience. Now, with Peace, she can take that even further and attract even more stations. I do think radio focus is important and is the most effective way of getting your music to a large audience. Social media is great but there is nothing like the radio for hearing that new favourite artist and having that immediate impact. It is the decades-lasting form of marketing that can bring the artist directly to the fan. Anna Pancaldi works hard and promotes what she does but her natural talent seems to resonate with a huge audience. As we step into 2019; I feel she will keep on the same lines, sound-wise, as she is right now; retaining that mixture of pressing with the more soulful. There are so many songwriters out there and it is a very challenging business. Pancaldi has already negotiated that tricky step: getting her music heard on national radio and gathering that impassioned fanbase.

Before I talk about T.V. and how music can translate there; I will stay with radio and how impactful it is. I listen to radio every day and do not limit myself to one option. You can discover artists you will not find on social media by listening to radio and, unlike social media, you hear their sounds and there is something much more natural and effecting. I can understand why Anna Pancaldi has grown into this popular and loved artist and how her music has got into the national mindset. She is still in the early stages of her career and can see her popularity grow. What moves me is how she continues to diversify and push herself, even though her music is established and popular. Many songwriters, once they get the love of radio and have that set sound, do not really make efforts to do anything more and can keep going down the same line. I can understand how artists would merge and form their sounds based on the demands of radio stations and how they can get a bigger audience. Pancaldi has always been natural and led by instincts. The relationship she has formed with radio stations has formed in a more personal and less commercial way and that is a reason why I am a fan of her. I will end the review by speaking about Pancaldi’s future and where she might go; how she will develop and where her career can take her. There are many who can get their music onto national radio but fewer who get their material played on T.V. It is a great time for her and so many eyes are cast her way. Radio stations have already jumped onto her music and love what she does but she has also managed to reach international T.V. sources. If you can broaden your horizons and get onto T.V. then that opens your music up to new possibilities.

Pancaldi is a British artist but she has got a lot of kudos from the U.S. She made her live T.V. debut on CBS and her music has been featured on the U.S. show, Famous in Love. Pancaldi penned a song for Levi as part of their Lot 700 jeans collection and got her music played on the accompanied advert. Pancaldi, oddly, has her own brand of gin and seems to have that business mindset. Not one to stick with one theme and limit herself in creative terms; she has got her foot in different waters and is always looking for that next project. I love the fact Pancaldi has her own gin and she wants to broaden her horizons. I am not sure whether that move was because she is a gin fan – in a non-drunken way – or she is always curious what she can do and achieve. Her music, as I have shown, has won the heart of national radio stations and it cannot be too long before film directors and producers come her way! I feel like Pancaldi’s music has the ability to score a big drama or a cool Indie film; get under the skin of those watching a cinematic treasure – who knows how far she can go! Getting your music on T.V. shows might seem like a minor accomplishment but I think it is a big step. There are very few who can boast that and there is a whole new world waiting for you. It is strange to consider but the same song can have a different impact when played on the screen (as compared the radio). If it is played at the right moment then it can be hugely effecting. I am not sure whether Pancaldi has had her music played on British T.V. but I can see that coming. I do not know how she managed to get her music played in the U.S. but I am sure it is her determination, talent and constant hard work that made that happen. The U.S. market is a huge one and I hope that success continues to rise.

All I have mentioned before explains why Anna Pancaldi has got success and foundations. She is a rising artist who has worked on her material and always considers how she can make it stronger. Since working alongside Matt Ingram (Florence + the Machine, Laura Marling); her music has grown and there is fresh confidence in there. Pancaldi has evolved and, as I said, is not someone who sticks with the same sound and dynamic – even if she is popular and her music is connecting with people. Electric guitar and something more thrilling is covered on her latest track, Peace. I will look at its themes and story but it is interesting to see how her sound has grown and how Pancaldi keeps plugging and experimenting. I have been talking about her T.V. success and I feel her latest revelation will get some more focus. I can imagine Peace being played on a U.S. show or a British drama. It is an exciting and busy time for Pancaldi and I know she will continue to work and share her music. There are not many who have the same work ethic as her and have that attitude. Not only is the music from her exciting and exceptional but the person behind the songs is thrilling. So few songwriters have that intriguing personality and seem to draw you in. Many times, I listen to a song and never really get curious about the artist who penned it. Maybe that is my problem but I want to feel connected with the songwriter and feel like they are writing music for me. Pancaldi is someone who is strong and resilient in her songs but you can sense a sensitivity and a complexity. She always wants to involve the listener in her sounds and take them along with her. Rather than write about something that means something to her and does not translate; the music is designed to connect with everyone and bring fresh faces in.

There are a load of artists out there and you are spoiled for choice. I have been in music for a long time and seen so many great artists come through but there are those who stay in the mind a bit and then disappear. Few really remain for years to come but that is not their fault – the industry is busy and hectic and it can be tough retaining the sounds. Anna Pancaldi draws me in because she has an incredible style and sound; her lyrics seem to speak to the masses and you are involved and hooked by every note! Maybe this is one reason why radio and T.V. have come her way. I look back and can see what a great 2018 she has had. There have been great songs and revelations; Pancaldi is looking ahead and seeing what comes next. Given the fact she has taken her sound in a new direction and exploring fresh territory; it seem next year will be a very exciting one. I am not sure whether new material is coming soon – I shall explore this in the conclusion – but I know the songwriter will look in new directions. Peace is a sign of where she is now and where her creative mind is. I wonder whether she will continue down this road or make another sonic step. In any case; you need to be involved with what Anna Pancaldi is all about and where she is going. Her music seems to resonate and connect; it goes deep and people love what she is doing. I think next year will be a huge one for her and things will get even better. Look at where she has come and how her music has been celebrated and you can see this bright songwriter shaping up to a be a future star! Even though music is packed and competitive; I can see quite a clear and golden path for Pancaldi.

It seems there is a hero/heroine that has that confidence and inner-peace Pancaldi lacks. The song opens and makes its presence known right away. There is not a big introduction and build-up and you hear the heroine come straight in. The vocal makes an impact and its feelings known and you hear this soulful and emotive tone. The production allows the vocal to come top of the mix and there is little other sound pushing it back. You get the first sign of those electric strings but Pancaldi’s tremulous and passionate voice is the most prominent instrument at first. Maybe Peace is a reaction to things that have happened before and a bit of turmoil that has plagued her. I get the sense Pancaldi has experienced some hurt and storm and she is on a better footing. Perhaps someone in her life has that calm and inner-peace and the heroine envies that. She knows things will get better and be okay when you have that peace. Maybe it has been love or a sense of accomplishment that has got her to where she is. A lot of songwriters would use love and relationships as a drive and source of inspiration. They would spill their guts about the bond and how enriched they feel. Pancaldi is more concerned with general feeling and connecting with everyone. I am not sure what has compelled Pancaldi to feel like she needs that boost but I guess life has taken its toll and there have been stresses forming. Something has arrived that has given Pancaldi this calm and settled her nerves. Perhaps there is new romantic involvement but I feel her natural fortitude and strength has seen improvement. The heroine knows things can be good and she can live in peace for a long time. She refers to ‘we’ but I wonder whether this references a lover or a friend. Maybe things have been bad and there have been obstacles but the heroine has the desire to keep positive.

The composition does not get too heavy and, aside from a sturdy beat and strings; it is Pancaldi’s voice that steals the show and does the loudest talking. Her musicians add a lot of flair and emotion but it is the lead that sells the words and brings that expressive voice to the fore. Rather than idly and lazily sing the words; she twists sentences and syllables to give them more emotion and gravitas. I get the sense of a woman who has been heartbroken and disappointment. She has gone through a lot and faced some pretty big challenges. Rather than accuse people or wallow in that state; she wants to break through and find some sense of grounding. There is nothing to fear when you have peace and things can be a lot better. It is a wonderful expression and mandate that will inspire a lot of people. It is hard to compare Pancaldi to any other artist because her voice has that special and personal sound. There is soulfulness and Blues touches that remind me of Stevie Nicks and a bit of k.d. lang but there is so much more working away. It is an immediate and dynamic voice that has so many different colours and emotions at heart. She is one of the best voices in modern music and someone who can elevate any song to rare heights. Peace is a track that makes full use of Pancaldi’s talents and will see her get into the mind of new fans. The production allows her voice to weave and dominate but there is plenty of space for the composition. Our heroine knows that, if we stand a little taller than before, things can be better and that peace can come. It would be easy to write clichés and present rather ordinary lyrics but Pancaldi never falls victim to that. I am amazed by her spirit and the way her words can get into the soul.

She is an amazing songwriter who has always impressed but it seems like she has hit new peaks here. I am curious what inspired the new track and whether a particular figure has been responsible for this revival. I am a big fan of everything she puts out because it comes from a very real place and is designed to make everyone feel better. Whether that is a pleasing composition or lyrics that are directed at the listener; you always feel involved and part of the song. I feel like there has been some struggle and hardship ahead of her but Pancaldi has negotiated them and is keen to move through. Finding calm and stability can be hard in these challenging times and finding the determination to stand tough is difficult. Pancaldi is presenting this message and sentiment of hope to the people. I think things have got better in her life and changes are going to come. There is a figure in the song that seems to imbibe this newfound lust and betterment and she is taking inspiration from them. Pancaldi’s voice swoons and swoops before rising to those dizzying heights. I always love hearing her sing and what she can bring to a song but Peace seems to be one of her most complete and inspiring tracks yet. Not that Pancaldi only writes about what she is going through but here, especially, you know she is speaking to everyone and sending that positive message out there. We all go through tough times and changes but you need that belief you can get through and the storms will pass. I am impressed by Peace and have listened to it a few times. It reveals new layers and impressions each visit and stays in the mind. There are few songwriters who can write a song that has that impact and it makes me wonder where Anna Pancaldi goes from here. She is a great artist always looking to evolve and impress and you can hear that come to the fore on her latest single. I hope everyone backs her and the song reaches even more people than it already has.

Anna Pancaldi is touring at the moment and you keep updated on her movements through her social media. With Peace out there and already capturing the imagination; people are keen to see her on the road and hear the song played up-close. The intrepid songwriter is reaching new audiences and it seems like that hunger to impress and captivate is huge. I have listened to how Pancaldi has grown and where her music is taking her. Every new release brings fresh confidence and she is not one who sticks with the same formula and repeats herself. It is going to be a busy and exciting end to 2018 but she will be looking to next year and how far she can go. Maybe there will be some U.S. dates and more success regarding T.V. and film. Radio stations here are behind her and it seems like that acclaim is going to grow. I wonder whether an E.P. will come in 2019 and what form it will take. It is a crucial and big time for Pancaldi and I am keen to see where she heads next. Maybe there will be more singles in the coming months but Pancaldi is eager to spread the music on the road and promote Peace as much as possible. There is a long way to go until mainstream success comes but you cannot rule that out completely. Anna Pancaldi has an edgy and cool sound that is beyond what you’d get from the mainstream but there is that definite populist appeal.

You can bond with a song naturally and easily but the notes remain in the mind. I would love to see her on the road but, alas, things are a bit busy this side. I know she has a loyal and passionate fanbase and her live sets are incredible. Given the fact there is quite a bit of material under her belt; her shows have that full and eclectic sound. Next year will give her a chance to bring out new material and take that next step. I love what Peace is all about and there is a more fired and exciting flair. Get behind what she does and see this brilliant young talent rise and shine. I have been looking at her music for a while and can see how much she has grown. It is brilliant discovering a songwriter and having them lodge in the head. Things are getting bigger and brighter for Anna Pancaldi and I am excited to see where she goes. There are those songwriters that make an impression and then sort of fizzle out: few remain through the years and have that evolving and always-impressive style. Peace is proof there is a war of ambition and colour burning in her heart; that desire to get her music across the world and win new fans. There are not many who have the same attributes and talents as her. I have been playing her latest song for a bit and there is new wonder and secrets revealing themselves each time. Given her rate of progression and how much she puts into music; I think 2019 is going to be Pancaldi’s biggest year and will see gain new acclaim. Make sure you get behind Peace and give it a good listen. If you can; follow Pancaldi on social media and see her on tour. She is a fantastic songwriter and someone we all need to get involved with. She has achieved a lot in her career so far but I think Peace might be her…