Based out of New Zealand, Alanna Eileen first emerged back in 2015, with a debut EP, Absence. That was followed two years later by Keepsake, and maintaining the theme of a new EP every two years, is set to return next month with a brand new eight-track offering, Artifice. Ahead of that today we’re premiering Alanna’s new single, Faded Image.

Faded Image is the latest taste of Alanna’s recording sessions in America with producer Alan Weatherhead, known for his work with Sparklehore & Magnolia Electric Co. This fledgling partnership already seems to bearing a multitude of fruits; the production bringing out all the twanging, intimate beauty of Alanna’s songwriting.

Atop a backing of easy-paced drums, piano flourishes and warm glides of slide guitar (with more than a touch of Ryan Adams about them), Alanna’s vocal is given plentiful space to shine. Despite her New Zealand roots, Alanna’s is a classic Americana-vocal, pitched somewhere between Marissa Nadler and Tiny Ruins’ Hollie Fullbrook.  Lyrically, it’s a classic piece of country, all lovelorn longing and subtle questioning of where and why things didn’t quite work out. We find Alanna falling back to the comfort of a lovers arms, but knowing she can’t bare to hear them speak another word. Ultimately though, it’s a song about moving on, or at least trying to, “will I ever have you in my life?”, she repeats, seemingly not only unsure of the answer but also whether that’s a good thing. Faded Image is a beautiful track, in some ways almost old fashioned, classic songwriting, which oddly with so little of it about in the mainstream, now sounds quite fresh and exciting: a quiet triumph.

Artifice is out February 10th. Click HERE for more information on Alanna Eileen.

Alanna will be playing a London show on January 29th at The Slaughtered Lamb.