We Say…
The work of Texas-born songwriter Anna Roenigk, Born Again Virgin first caught out ear back in 2017 with her self-titled EP. Last year Anna made the bold decision to uproot her life, and relocated to London. Her new single, Spider in the Snow, is her first offering to largely be recorded in the United Kingdom, although with White Denim’s Greg Clifford adding drums back in Austin, Texas. The track is released today via her new label, My Little Empire Records, home to the likes of Pip Hall and Caroline Lazar.
Discussing the inspiration behind the track, Anna has suggested Spider In The Snow was influenced by Dean Young’s poetic collection ‘Fall Higher’ – “Hark Dumbass, the error is not to fall but to fall from no height“. As Anna further explains, she takes inspiration from the freedom that line implies, seeing it as being, “courageous enough to take a chance on something or someone because either way we are all going to fall, whether it’s from a height or tripping over our own feet”. Musically the track seems to be a louder, denser offering than Anna’s previous releases, citing influences from, “the theatrics of Rufus Wainwright to the rawness of 90’s grunge”. The track starts with a sedate, meander of guitar and a raw vocal sound, perfectly suited to Anna’s memories of a relationship that seems to be long gone. Then suddenly as the song seems to be walking a familiar path, it explodes into a wave of noisy guitars, as Anna pleads for closure, “I’ll be your spider in the snow, waiting for you, and if you love me let me go, let me fall from your fingertips”. Born Again Virgin showed the bravery to upend their life and pursue their dreams across an ocean, and here it seems to have brought fresh inspiration, excitement and quite possibly her finest release to date.
They Say…
FTR: For those who don’t know who is Born Again Virgin?
Born Again Virgin is me, Anna Roenigk, a songwriter originally from Austin, Texas now based in Northwest London.
FTR: What can you remember about your first show?
I can’t quite remember if my first show was at a grocery store or a whiskey bar… Either way I guess it must have gone fine because I don’t recall much from it. Only that the more I played live and could forget about any sort of nerves, the more I realized how much I loved playing shows.
FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?
Im pretty shit at drawing and I got into music school so I didn’t end up pursuing my second major choice which was theatre. I always listened to music obsessively as a child and then started playing saxophone in middle school. I began playing guitar when I was a teenager and everything else sort of unfolded from there.
FTR: What can people expect from the Born Again Virgin live show?
If I am playing solo it’s more contained and moody but with a band it is definitely more of an aggressive and heavier show with puddles of sweat and sometimes blood…the drama.
FTR: What’s next for Born Again Virgin?
I will be continuing to release singles and hopefully be gearing up for when we can safely play live music again! I truly miss the experience of making terrible jokes and then going straight into a song so I don’t have to endure the silence that follows.
They Listen To…
Diana Burgess – How We Grow
My friend Diana just put out her debut solo album and it is wonderful. It has gorgeous string arrangements and she is a brilliant cellist.
Springful – 26
My buddy Jim, whose project is called Springful, put out “26” this year and I just think it’s a electro-pop banger. Also I too turned 26 this year….2020.
CHIKA – CROWN
A friend of mine sent me CHIKA’s music and she kills. She sings her hooks and has both a beautiful singing voice and is an excellent rapper.
Big Black Delta – Canary
I’ve been really into Big Black Delta recently and he has just put out a new album. Love heavy electronic with pop aesthetics.
Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart
Had this song stuck in my head the other day and have been listening obsessively since. I really want to cover it. Usually I don’t listen to prog rock because I like the pan flute and the electric guitar as two separate instruments but not when they are played in unison for 16 minutes straight… But anyways this song is a bop and a true beauty of the 80’s.
Spider In The Snow is out today via My Little Empire. Click HERE for more information on Born Again Virgin.
For The Rabbits 