Annie Dresner’s new single ‘Hate Being By Myself’ is the herald for not only a new album, Trying to Be Cool, but the Kickstarter to fund it (link here). It’s not easy being an artist in the current climate. Streaming pays you fractional pennies on the pound and AI is scraping creativity to train LLM’s to homogenise art. A lot of grassroots artists have day jobs and, though it may be worthwhile, it’s expensive to use PR companies to schill your wares for radio play and coverage on blogs like Joyzine. If you are not lucky enough to have sexy feet or an erotic elbow that can generate income from OnlyFans then there are not many avenues open. Crowd funding is a great way to get more than just the music (merch, personal items etc.) and engage directly with the artist.
‘Hate Being Myself’ is a slice of melancholy Americana that tackles a mood we all know: that sense of ennui and the struggle to do things when your human battery is down to 1%, “I hate being by myself I wanted to be alone, sat around and slept the day away”. Dresner sings she “should know better” due to “All the pretty things. All the lovely things. All the people that I love. All the things to do. All the things I like. All the fight there is to fight”. The song is accompanied by a delightful video featuring Annie and her daughter as ‘Young Annie’ (I loved the bunny slippers). It’s a touching set of tableaus of both singing straight to camera in various locations at home.
The Kickstarter campaign runs until 3 November and gives you the opportunity to get a range of things from a digital or physical copy of the album, hats, a handwritten & signed lyric sheet, and even a songwriting commission and house concert.
Annie Dresner socials: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | TikTok
Tour dates for 2027:
Tues 13th April – BIRMINGHAM – Kitchen Garden
Weds 14th April – BRISTOL – Hen & Chicken
Thurs 15 April – LONDON – The Grace
Fri 16 April – SEVENOAKS – Otford Memorial Hall (St Edith’s Folk)
Sat 17 April – CAMBRIDGE – The Junction
Sun 18 April – SALTAIRE – The Live Rooms
Tues 20 April – LIVERPOOL – Music Room
Weds 21 April – STAVELEY (nr KENDAL) – Roundhouse
Thurs 22 April – BARTON-UPON-HUMBER – Ropewalk
Fri 23 April – POCKLINGTON – Arts Centre
Sat 24 April – BURY – The Met
Sun 25 April – SHEFFIELD – Cafe No. 9
Tickets HERE
Review by Paul F Cook
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