“This one life and memory”
Raw. Unkempt. Undisguised.
A few choice words that I feel encapsulate the overall mood of Annahstasia’s debut outing, “Tether”. But another word I feel springs to mind better sums up why Tether lands so strongly. Singular.
Growing up, Annahstasia Enuke never saw herself as a singer or a music artist, wanting instead to become a doctor. One listen of opener ‘Be Kind’ and you have to wonder how and why it never crossed her mind sooner, and I say that with the highest of praise in mind. A soft, yet deeply layered instrumental, that allows Annahstasia’s intrinsic vocals be the star.
But Annahstasia found herself at an inescapable crossroads with music. Unable to accept the demands of her previous label, she stopped any plans with music, heading back to school to get a few degrees. But since 2019, Annahstasia, free from her label contract, now had a new spark and lease to work on music.
What strikes me about Tether is that it’s a record of both familiarity and unfamiliarity. The music is barebones the majority of the time, with minimal instrumentation or vocal backings, consisting largely of slow, intimate guitars and pianos that operate as silent watchers over a lot of these tracks. The album is also characterised by personal lyrics about life and love, many tracks feel like a call to a love interest for someone or something. This kind of deep, personal folk is not foreign to me at all, and the sound was something I felt I welcomed with ease.
But that minimal approach means that your voice as an artist is what the spotlight will shine on. I guarantee you won’t hear another album for the rest of the year with a voice as stunningly sombre, yet deep and lush as hers.
‘Villain’ stands as my favourite of this individual collection, one of the few songs that builds, and Annahstasia uses all of her vocal range to impressive effect. There’s a power to Annahstasia’s voice that simultaneously manages to lull you in with how gentle it can in its lower register and reel you in when her voice goes above and beyond. It sounds like a gift from the gods. ‘Slow’ epitomises the record in name, a relaxed, sedating track, with Nigeran artist Obongjayer adding and blending his voice so brilliantly with Annahstasia’s.
The album closes out in a subversive manner, as the tracks finally earn their escalation. ‘Silk and Velvet’ in its second half slowly crescendos with lumbering intensity in a way no track on this album has yet. ‘Satisfy Me’ is a tenderly plea to a loved one to finally give Annahstasia some form of pleasure she craved. Closer ‘Believer’ is the rock-heavy centrepiece on Tether, the guitars are more distorted, the drums are more impactful and present. The final 2 minutes are the album at it’s most flowing, asking a presumed love interest “can I be lonely here with you?” It’s fitting that, on an album where Annahstasia’s power came from her quieter end of her voice, the album ends with her vocals at the absolute peak, they soar to the skies above.
Tether is a striking album for many reasons. Annahstasia’s voice is incredibly distinctive and able to create so many emotions at any given moment, and the majority minimalist approach allows her to shine even more. The spotlight on her is perhaps not as bright, but the spotlight shone here is one you won’t forget.
Annahstasia: Tether – Out 13 June 2025 (Drink Sum Wtr)