AMANDA STEWART RELEASES ROCK INFLUENCED SINGLE “WINDOW”
With her soul residing in Montana, Americana artist Amanda Stewart channels an open hearted and authentic approach to her music. Today, Stewart delivers the third rock influenced single “Window” — off her forthcoming 12-track album Venom, due Friday, July 28. Written on the other side of the beginning stages of a relationship, Stewart reflects on all the “what ifs” that come with the territory over an ambitious rock sound previously foreign to the project. Featuring hard-strummed electric guitar and unyielding drums over simultaneously grimy and polished full throated vocals, Amanda introduces another side of herself as a musician and vocalist.
“I used to stress over new relationships — ‘why haven’t they called me back? What are they doing right now? Why won’t they just say what they’re thinking?’— etcetera,” Amanda reveals. “But I finally got to a point in my life where I finally stopped and thought, you know, if this relationship is going to happen, I cannot be the only person making an effort, and that was so liberating.”
Stream / Download “Window” here. Watch the “Window” official music video here.
“Window” succeeds the release of “Drugs,” — unveiled by Americana UK, Andrew Frolish remarked, “Lyrically heartbreaking, ‘Drugs’ is performed with real emotion by Stewart and her collaborators Collin Elmore and Reuben Bidez of Nashville band Cabin Boys, whose voices are full of character. The trio’s beautiful harmonies ache with compassion over an atmospheric arrangement with a gentle rhythm, swelling keys and moody electric guitar.”
Pior, Stewart shared the LP’s lead single, “Lonesome Mountain,” which had Americana Highways noting “Amanda Stewart has a powerful voice that will not be denied.” The track was also spotlighted by The Boot where they raved, “Stewart possesses a wide and open perspective of life, marinating and reflecting on her own experiences until she feels called to share through her music.”
Amanda channels a bare bones, stylistically diverse, Americana sound characterized by mellifluous vocals, intertwined by a harmonious fusion of sharp and gentle qualities. Her lyrics probe towards life’s melancholic and pensive experiences, yet find unbashful moments to amp up and rock out.
Growing up in the mountains of Montana, Amanda spent much of her time on her grandparents ranch, being exposed to the acoustic instrumentation and simple yet honest songwriting of Americana, folk and country music styles. The musical notes of her childhood braided with the openness and sequestered life in the mountains allowed her the space and quiet that was integral in her journey of self discovery as a person and as an artist. “Montana is a hidden gem full of all sorts of genres of music,” Amanda says. “That paired with the slower pace of life compared to other cities I’ve lived in like Seattle, gave me the figurative and literal space for self reflection.”
It’s hard to believe Amanda wasn’t always honed in on her craft with an album like Venom that’s so honest and raw, but the songwriter took a while to find her own voice and sound. Music has always been a part of her life. “I can remember sitting at the old, slightly out of tune, piano at my grandparents ranch in Montana just plugging away at the keys and singing nonsense,” she reflects, “I was always singing or humming as a kid.” But it wasn’t until she started truly dedicating herself to the art — writing her own songs and playing gigs most nights of the week — that she really started to understand what her voice could do and how singing of things she cared about made her better.
“I just want people to feel ok with whatever they're feeling,” Amanda says when talking of the message she hopes to portray through her music. “There are songs about a lot of serious and difficult things, and also songs about fleeting moments in my life, and I know others have had similar experiences.” Life doesn’t look the exact same for every person, but through shared emotions we are reminded of how connected we truly are and Venom perfectly encapsulates these synchronicities. “I want people to get these songs stuck in their head, so that they can be reminded that someone else has been where they may be at now, or have been before in life.”
