Emily Anderson’s new single, “Laughter & Disaster,” opens with the vibrant strumming of guitars—an energetic feel to proceed well with the free-flowing, gliding vocals that set the tone. The Alaskan indie darling is taking you through an emotional rollercoaster of dangerous waters: love, loss, laughter, and pain. It was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Goldston and is a masterful study in the balancing of opposing emotions in an effort to capture life’s messy moments.
“Laughter & Disaster” is honestly irreverent, reflecting back some of Emily’s own struggles, especially with the loss of her best friend. A voice that could be a merger between Regina Spektor and Kacey Musgraves delivers an impressive alloy of wit and vulnerability. The lush arrangement of guitar, strings, and velvet vocals crafts a thick weave that pulls the listener far, far into a cocoon of complexity and emotion.
It is, as she describes, her favourite creation—a thing that lent catharsis, helping her get through one of the tough chapters in her life. It also just attests to the power that songwriting has as a form of therapy: being able to capture specific moments and exactly what it was she was wrestling with. The lyrics stay in a soft balance between grief and hope, between pain and joy—much like the title suggests. “Laughter & Disaster” does not turn away from the duality of human experience; it embraces it fully, making it a deeply relatable and moving piece.
So take a while to immerse yourself in “Laughter & Disaster.” Let the poetic lyrics and glimmering vocals of Emily Anderson take you through: the ups and downs, the laughter, and the tears. This is a song that most certainly will remain static: a very powerful emblem that, in one way or another, even in our worst, there might be a light at the end.
Yu can find more of Emily Anderson at:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
You can listen to ‘Laughter & Disaster’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.