Canadian singer songwriter Annabel Gutherz announced her arrival on the music scene with her sweet and gentle vocals about five years ago. Since then, Gutherz has continued to draw on her life experiences often taking listeners on a heartfelt and explorative journey. Combining her fondness of classic rock instrumentation and modern pop melodies, Gutherz has created a unique space to continue to develop her burgeoning career. On her new single Shame, Gutherz becomes even more self-aware as a songwriter, encapsulating the insecurities that underscore relationships. Equally mesmerising is the track’s pulsating beat which seemingly recalls Fleetwood Mac at their most pop friendly. That said, I recently reached out to Gutherz to talk about the new single, her music and the road ahead.
When I listen to music, I see stories unfold in my mind’s eye. What happens to you when you’re listening to music? Do you typically listen with your eyes open or closed? That’s so beautiful! For me, it really depends on the context, but often when I’m listening to, creating, or performing music, I feel most connected to this ignition inside of me that makes me feel alive! It gives me this sense of unbridled inspiration that reminds me how rare and magical life is, and I’m so appreciative of it. I listen to music with my eyes open! I love to embrace my surroundings and the energy of the moment, such that listening to music becomes experiential.
What would you say are the key ideas behind how you approach music and what motivates you to create? I approach music with honesty and keep as central to the truth as possible. Whatever feels authentic to me while I’m writing becomes my beacon and guiding light in the creative process. As for what motivates me to create, life and the stories we all live. I love experiencing stories and shaping and sharing them with others.
How do you go about shaping ideas into complete songs? I typically start with a story or concept I want to share and expound upon it lyrically and melodically against a chosen chord progression. I write a first draft song, putting more expository information in the verses and thematic information in the choruses, and then I refine, refine, refine. Completing songs is an iterative process that’s so much fun to explore!
Your music has a melodic pop-rock sound. Please tell me about some of the influences you lean on sonically for your music? Recently, my prevailing influences are Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. I grew up listening to them and my love, admiration, and awe of their music never waned. It’s timeless, and I hope my music possesses some of those same enduring qualities. I also draw inspiration from other artists I look up to who depict such vivid pictures with their lyrics and soundscapes, including Taylor Swift, Reneé Rapp, Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams, just to name a few!
Can you share insights into the production process for your music? Absolutely! Throughout my career, I’ve had the great fortune of collaborating with brilliant producers, and the process looks different with every producer. I’m currently working with Mikal Blue and Bret “Epic” Mazur, and have frequently come into the studio with a Topline (Melody and lyrics) and a very basic rhythm track either on keyboard or guitar, and they transform the arrangement. Mikal creates these warm and organic textures that Bret compliments with edgy and synthetic tones, creating a sonic blend that’s resonating with me right now!
How does the way you make music reflect the way you live your life? That’s such a great question! In a lot of ways, the way I make music is the way I live my life… I try to approach my creativity with an open heart, welcoming inspiration, love, passion, vulnerability, and a cleansed emotional palette, exploring concepts and ideas freely before instilling structure. I approach life in a fairly similar fashion, with structure being the routine I implement for myself. In music, I am quite meticulous about every detail and perfectionistic. I find it difficult to call a song complete and let it go, worried there may be one more thing I can add that may make it that much more resonant! I am very similar in life, too, which is something I am working on!
What was the inspiration behind your latest single, “Shame”? Insecurity and doubt were the catalysts that prompted the conception of “Shame,” and I drew inspiration from both my life and the lives of those around me to flesh out and complete the song. Despite what it’s about, the song embodies this warm vibrancy, and I hope listeners can embrace that feeling!
Annabel, before I let you go, what can we expect from you moving forward? A long play I hope? You’re so sweet! A long play is definitely the goal and I’m working toward that right now!
Rearview Mirror 
Didn’t know anything about her but that’s a charming discovery you offered me.
Thanx Robert.
I love learning how other songwriters think and feel about their craft and make music. thank you for sharing this with me.
Annabel Gutherz is a completely new artist to me. Since I generally dig pop rock, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, she sounds up my alley!
Nice song, and her vocals are really pleasing. The little recurring background riff is reminiscent of the one in Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy”.