There is no shortage of songs about heartbreak out there, but Norwegian Americana musician Benedicte Brænden certainly has a presentation style that draws on the friendliest of dive tavern soundtracks: think Stevie Nicks, Lydia Loveless, and Heartless Bastards.
On her third album, Raging River (out 10/14), Brænden delivers a /remarkable collection of love and loss, of struggle and success, of connection and disconnection. Coming off a smashing show at the 2022 Stagecoach festival, the Norwegian artist’s Americana blends traditional songcraft, tight playing, and canny instrumentation, mixing in punchy brass and passionate strings, bluesy guitar solos, and soulful organ.
From the opening chords that summon a lost track from Bella Donna, Brænden sounds as if she’s been playing the Texas circuit back when the Houston Oilers were still a thing. With unbridled brooding openheartedness and a neon-lit sign of pure guitar rock, her latest track “Heartbreak” is one of true melodic precision. Glide is premiering this crisp composition where Brænden’s scenic brand of Americana that stenches of familiarity and attitude.
This song is about how bad heartbreak can make you feel. How it can hurt both mentally and physically and you’re wondering if you’ll get through it at all. I was searching for new inspiration and artists at the time when I wrote this song and came across Australian Tash Sultana. Her energy and sound are just amazing and it inspired me to focus a bit more on the guitar and to make a guitar riff that would go throughout the song,” says Brænden.
“Normally I write the lyrics and the melody at the same time, just strumming on my guitar. This time I started off with the guitar riff, then I just kept on singing on top of that until I had the melody and the lyrics set. I also found some inspiration in Bob Marley for this one. His music always makes me think of summer and very often there is a sense of hope in his lyrics that I find comforting in a way. I tried to add some of that into Heartbreak.”
