Unlike the upbeat and carefree vibe of 'Sweat', Anna Straker's latest single 'London Knows' embraces a more sober and vulnerable tone.
Anna’s clear vocals, full of pain and introspection, are beautifully paired with multi-layered harmonies and soothing synths.
Last year, Anna was a victim of sexual assault. She recalls the experience of being lost and drugged in Bangkok as “the scariest thing that ever happened to me”.
Anna says:
"Coming back home I felt so different, London felt unfamiliar, and doing the things I normally did every weekend was suddenly triggering for me. I wrote this song about healing, and the uncertainty of recovery. Knowing I was going to feel better one day but not knowing when, and hoping that London will eventually feel like home again."
Anna swaps her famous bold pink aesthetic for a somber black outfit in the music video for 'London Knows'. The pained facial expressions Anna makes as she mouths the lyrics invokes a sense of empathy in viewers.
Anna says:
"During this pandemic, we have all felt these same feelings of uncertainty, hoping for the world to heal and return to normal again. I hope you listen to this song and remember that whatever the world throws at you, you can be whole again, you can recover, and you can heal."
'London Knows' is the first song Anna has released under Never Fade Records. The London native was first discovered in her early teens, when producer Mike Spencer (Emeli Sandé, Years & Years) noticed her YouTube channel. He recruited Anna as a backing vocalist on various music projects.
Anna’s 2016 debut EP ‘Serious’ gained the attention of Radio 1’s Annie Mac, Pigeons and Planes, and earned her sets at Glastonbury and The Great Escape.
Listen to 'London Knows' HERE
Instagram: @strak3rgram
WORDS BY STEPHANIE LAM