Annabel Gutherz talks to us about her current single 'Retrograde' and all things music.

Thanks so much for talking to ReVamp, in 3 words describe your sound?

Thank you so much for having me! I'm thrilled to be talking to ReVamp! In three words, I would describe my music as theatrical, emotional, and impassioned. 

You grew up in Montreal, Canada, how did this have an influence on your music growing up there?

That's a great question! I'm not sure if growing up in Montreal had an influence on my music as much as my parent's and sister's listening habits did! Realising my love of music, my family introduced me to their preferred records and catalogues, cultivating a repertoire of songs that would become the soundtrack of my life. Their taste was quite diverse, and mine became as a result. I loved listening to music from Alicia Keys to Fleetwood Mac to Gladys Knight and the Pips to Carole King! The list is endless, and I believe all these iconic artists definitely influenced my sound in some shape or form. 

Can you remember how you got into music at all?

Absolutely! My introduction to music was through musical theatre. My mom and sister took part in a local theatre production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and I was riveted. The show ignited a love of music and performance in me, and I haven't looked back since.

You have a new remix out, ‘Retrograde’, what made you decide to do a remix?

I felt the meaning of "Retrograde" embodied the feeling of summer, and it would be fun to "summer-fy" the soundscape with a remix!

What was the recording/writing process like?

The writing/recording process for "Retrograde" was quite seamless. I wrote the entirety of the song in the span of fifteen minutes and recorded it in my home studio (i.e. my bedroom!), as lockdown restrictions were still in place. After working on the production with my genius producer in Montreal, Dominique Messier, I sent the stems to Bret "Epic" Mazur in Los Angeles, who employed his pop prowess and remixed the song.

How was it working with Bret ‘Epic’ Mazur?

In one word: Epic! It was such an honour to work with Bret! He has years of experience and is a brilliant musician and producer! He imparted his wisdom with me throughout the process and put his contemporary spin on the song! I learned invaluable lessons from this invaluable experience, which fills me with an abundance of gratitude!

What is next for you?

​​I have many new songs I am so excited to release and share with others! They are each part of a greater album that's unified by a central theme, a "concept album" if you will. I'm eager to perform these songs live and to connect with audiences in a shared space.