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Artist Spotlight
autumnal

autumnal are a Colorado band whose songs walk the line between folk intimacy and dreamy, electronic textures. What began as a childhood friendship between Annalee and Geneva has grown into a full band, and their music often carries pieces of their own lives: field recordings, conversations, and reflections on the pressures and joys of being human.

With a debut album on the way in September and a recent Sonic Spotlight win behind them, autumnal are in a moment of growth, discovery and realisation. We caught up with Annalee to talk about how their songs come together, the meaning behind the details, and what they hope people feel when they press play.

How did autumnal first come together, and what made you realise you wanted to make music as a band?

Geneva and I (Annalee) became best friends in fifth grade! We started by singing in choir and musicals together—then started writing songs in middle school and early high school. We were a duo until 2022, when we added our bassist Justice, and Nina joined in 2023. Geneva and I didn’t set out in the beginning with the idea of making a band, just as we grew older and wrote more complex songs it made sense to add in a band! 

If someone’s hearing your music for the first time, how would you describe your sound and the emotions you hope it brings out?

We like to say our songs balance folk songwriting with dreamy electronic textures. We like to add in audio captured on our travels and in life to the songs to really transport the listener. We hope listeners feel at home in the music, and can connect to whatever aspect speaks to them the most.

Your songs balance dreamy textures with heartfelt lyrics. What’s your process for bringing those two elements together?

A lot of times Geneva will mess around with different sounds in their synth until they find something that matches the atmosphere of words we have written—on the other hand Annalee usually starts with a guitar line and adds lyrics after. Our different approaches to songwriting add a varied element to our songs. 

What role do personal experiences or beliefs play in shaping the stories you tell through your songs?

All of our songs are deeply personal—they’re often a way for us to process things that have happened in our life. For example, our latest single breathing was inspired by the societal pressure to always be working, always be on the grind. It’s about taking a step back from that and “breathing”, because even breathing is good for you. This is usually how we go about writing songs, we take something we feel strongly and translate it in the lyrics.

Can you share a moment in the studio or rehearsal space when a song really came to life in an unexpected way?

When we were recording breathing we worked with producers Miranda Fling and Jim Eno, they had some really cool ideas to bring the song to the next level! Jim brought up the idea of playing back some field recordings through my guitar amp and running it through pedals to make it sound distorted and distant. It ended up sounding really cool and added a unique texture to the recording!

You’ve blended DIY production with working alongside other producers. How do you decide which approach is right for a song?

A lot of times it's kind of just whatever works out logistically. For the first album it was recorded at four different studios, mixed by three different people and mastered by two. It was recorded over a year just as we had the songs done. For our second album we really want to work in one studio with one person to help the cohesiveness of our sound, but we think this album still came out good!

Watch on Youtube

Watch on Youtube

Winning the Sonic Spotlight last year must have been a big milestone, how has that recognition influenced your journey so far?

We got a free music video out of Sonic Spotlight which was really amazing! It’s a great asset to send to booking agents and venues and looks really professional, I think it’s helped us get some gigs! We also won a gift card to a local music shop—so we were all able to upgrade some gear. The little things go a long way when you’re doing it as a DIY band!

Are there any little “Easter Eggs” or unexpected details in your songs that fans might not notice on the first listen?

In our song plum season, an homage to our late friend Zoe, you can hear her talking about eating a peach—which is a motif in this album. Peaches are on the cover and in the music video and hidden throughout visuals for the album!

When you think about your live shows, what kind of atmosphere do you hope to create for the audience?

First and foremost we want to create a safe and welcoming space. As femme and queer folks in music we have all had our fair share of unfortunate experiences in the industry, so we strive to make sure folks feel comfortable and safe. Music-wise we try to create an ethereal reflective vibe—we hope folks can lose themselves in the tunes.

You’ve played shows both locally in Colorado and farther afield, how does the energy of a hometown crowd compare to new places?

Most places we play on the road are super welcoming and encouraging! Colorado shows are always nice too though, the local scene is super supportive and encouraging. And as we return to cities we have played before, folks who saw us before have come back and saw us again which is super encouraging!

Looking ahead, are there new sounds, ideas, or collaborations you’re excited to explore? What’s next for autumnal?

We’re releasing our first album September 26th! It’s been a long time coming and we’re super excited to have it out. We’ve also begun writing our second—which we have a big vision for. We’re excited to keep writing over this fall and winter and to keep exploring new sounds!


You can find autumnal on Instagram, YouTube and Bandcamp.

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