Los Angeles-based artist Beatrix, the soulful orchestral indie rock/folk/chamber-pop project of Arielle Kasnetz, has announced the release of her highly anticipated second album, We Swallowed The Sky. Set to drop on April 24 via Nice Life, the record promises an immersive exploration of memory and emotion, blending striking melodies with daring arrangements that traverse hushed piano whispers to explosive full-band crescendos.
A Deep Dive into the Heart of the Past
In her latest work, Kasnetz delves into the depths of her memories, confronting a long-gone relationship that continues to cast its shadow over her present. The album’s unifying lyrical thread is the return to this past love, allowing its ghost to haunt her through evocative storytelling and evocative instrumentation. Central to the record is the pedal steel, weaving seamlessly between past, present, and future, embodying the lingering presence of a love lost.
Kasnetz describes We Swallowed The Sky as her most authentic musical expression to date. “This record feels like I’m in my true form,” she shares, pre-saving the album now as a testament to her creative truth.
New Single “Class Reunion”: A Tale of Nostalgia and Regret
Accompanying the album announcement is the release of the new single and video, “Class Reunion.” Kasnetz showcases her storytelling prowess as she vividly depicts an encounter between exes after a decade apart. The song’s narrative is raw and detailed: a chance meeting at a school reunion, where one partner desperately wants to reconnect while the other navigates a flood of emotions and memories.
Kasnetz recounts, “Ten years later, they see each other at a reunion. He’s never quite moved on and wants to talk. There have been attempts before, but they’ve always been shut down. Now, he’s sipping a gin and tonic, nervously trying to start a conversation. It’s awkward — he brags, panics, and feels his chance slipping away. He wakes up, realizing it was just a nightmare. But one thing’s clear — no one loved him like she did.”
The official music video for “Class Reunion” evokes a surreal, Twin Peaks-meets-The Office atmosphere, set within a sterile community center. Kasnetz’s intense gaze and unwavering stare into the camera create a hypnotic connection, capturing the universal anxiety of confronting ghosts from the past.
A New Chapter in a New City
Kasnetz’s journey to this album’s creation was rooted in a significant life transition. After living in New York, she moved to Los Angeles, initially feeling isolated and surrounded by unfamiliar faces. However, her move opened the door to an inspiring community of musicians, including Philip Etherington, who co-produced the album alongside Ehren Ebbage.
The core of each song was recorded as a trio, then expanded into a larger ensemble featuring some of the most talented musicians in the scene. The lineup includes guitarists Harrison Whitford (Phoebe Bridgers) and Ryan Lerman (John Legend, Vulfpeck), bassist Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Arlo Guthrie), drummer Rob Humphries (Kacey Musgraves), pianist Zac Rae (Death Cab for Cutie, Fiona Apple), pedal steel legend Greg Leisz (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell), horns player CJ Camerieri (Paul Simon, Bon Iver), woodwinds artist Jesse Chandler (Midlake, Mercury Rev), and string arranger Rob Moose (Sufjan Stevens, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z).
An Album of Emotional Depth and Musical Brilliance
With We Swallowed The Sky, Kasnetz crafts a record that is as sonically daring as it is emotionally honest. The songs are off-kilter and full of surprising melodic turns, seamlessly oscillating between intimate ballads and expansive, full-band arrangements. It’s a reflection of her growth as an artist—confident, unrestrained, and true to her unique voice.
As the release approaches, fans and new listeners alike are invited to join Kasnetz on this evocative journey through love, loss, and the ghosts that linger in the corners of memory.
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