The Glory of Growing

Story & Photo by Janet Adamana

With her soft, ethereal vocals whispering candid sorrow atop a bed of haunting electronic melodies, it’s hard not to feel moved by Lana Winterhalt and her new album, If & When.

The Winnipeg indie-pop artist beautifully captures the beginning and eventual happy ending to a tumultuous but well-intentioned relationship. Going through the various stages of hardship, the hope, and the healing, Winterhalt paints an unreserved portrait of the messiness of trying to build a life and a lasting connection with another person.

Written over the course of three years, she lived and breathed the emotional turmoil all the while spilling it into the album. “I just felt like music and writing was my way to process it,” said Winterhalt. “I didn't know what else to do except these songs were coming out. Some of them were way more vulnerable than I wanted them to be and I thought, 'am I okay with people hearing this?’” It was that vulnerability and that willingness to be open with her emotions that aided in the album’s gravitational pull felt by its listeners.

Listening to If & When feels like staring into a chasm of your own ailing heart. Whether those feelings are current or were felt years ago, the mapping of Winterhalt’s musings has been said to reopen old wounds, even for the musician herself. “When I play it at a show or play it to myself I still get taken back to those feelings,” explained Winterhalt. “The thing that keeps me going is when I play at shows, people would come up to me and say 'I really connected with that.'”

Lyrically, the album delves into growing with another person, but personal and professional growth is also prominent as Winterhalt debuts a brand new sound that extends the traditional tropes of the female singer-songwriter. “I feel like sometimes if you're a woman with a guitar people automatically peg you as a folk singer, so that's just what I thought I was,” said Winterhalt. “I started playing around a lot more with electronic instruments and just realizing what's even possible.”

Teaming up with Winnipeg producer, Elessar Thiessen, Winterhalt was able to channel this new vision of melding an electro-indie-pop feel with the grassroots folk vibe, a move she spent a lot of time pursuing and perfecting.

Ending last year with the release of her album and embarking on a western Canadian tour, the new year boasts one new and exciting goal for Winterhalt: sharing her passion and inspiring more people with her music. “I want people to hear the words of this one song in the background, or they just stumble upon it,” said Winterhalt. “That's been my biggest thing. How do I get it into people's ears? I think it can help and heal people.”

Grab and copy of If & When through Bandcamp or Apple Music, or stream through Spotify. Stay up-to-date with Lana Winterhalt through her official website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.