Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Anna Smyrk has released her new single “This Is A Drill,” offering listeners a poignant moment of emotional release and reflecting the impact of her personal loss.
Written in the aftermath of her father’s passing, the track emerges from the profound influence of grief. It begins with a quiet ache and gradually unfolds into raw emotional expression, demonstrating how loss and sorrow can unexpectedly shape one’s life. Anna Smyrk explains, “The song reflects a state where I am not ready to feel my feelings. It portrays a foggy, unreal state of denial, where each day feels like a rehearsal for the real thing.”
Arriving as a slow-burning indie folk track, the song’s courageous and candid lyrics highlight the ways people cope with life’s fractures. It is both a whisper and a wail, a confession and a release. Produced and mixed by Anna Laverty (Courtney Barnett, Nick Cave), the song captures the dreamlike space between shock and acceptance.
“This Is A Drill” was road-tested during the recent Community Garden Tour across Australia and has quietly resonated with audiences. Anna adds, “After the shows, people came to talk about their own losses. Even though it’s a song about denial, it seems to provide listeners a sense of release, which I really love.”
AJ