Written and produced entirely by her own hand, ‘Triple Shooting Star’ sees Annika Bennett exploring how to embrace her emotions as they come – trusting her instincts, practicing restraint, and uncovering her authentic voice.
Stream: ‘Triple Shooting Star’ – Annika Bennett
"In the past, song lyrics felt like me, but the recordings didn't always match. Producing this on my own was my way of finally sounding like the true me."
– Annika Bennett
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Many people navigate life without ever learning how to effectively process their emotions. Instead, they tend to judge themselves, suppress their feelings, or find it difficult to open up to those closest to them. This is not a personal failing, but rather a skill that many of us were never taught.
This is where profound art comes into play. Through music, film, and other types of expression, artists bravely make themselves vulnerable. By gaining a deep understanding of their own experiences and sharing that journey, they help others feel less isolated in their emotions.
Annika Bennett is one of those artists. "That's part of why I love songwriting," she explains. "Ultimately, there are no bad emotions; we just don’t always accept them. Writing songs is when I can see myself most clearly. It's when I take a moment to acknowledge my feelings and seek to understand them enough to create a song, rather than attempting to fix or ignore them."
Her second studio album, *Triple Shooting Star*, written and produced entirely by Bennett, traverses warm, melodic soundscapes while delving into self-observation without judgment, the healing power of deep friendships, and the significance of trusting one's instincts.
We spoke with her about the album and the emotional landscape it inhabits.
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:: Stream/Purchase *Triple Shooting Star* here ::
:: Connect with Annika Bennett here ::
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### A CONVERSATION WITH ANNIKA BENNETT
Atwood Magazine: I believe the last time we spoke was around this time last year when *Live From Mother Earth* was released.
Annika Bennett: Yes, I know! I didn’t even realize we were coordinating another release for next year; it seems like I’ll be doing a fall release for three years in a row!
I absolutely love this album. It's fantastic, and it's impressive that you produced it all yourself. Is this the first time you fully handled that on your own?
Annika Bennett: I released an EP called *Room Demos* about two and a half years ago, which I also fully produced myself, but I treated it as demos. With this album, it feels different because it's my first time fully producing a complete project.
These definitely don’t feel like demos at all. I was shocked to learn you produced it after listening! I want to explore the production and your incredible songwriting.
Annika Bennett: Thank you! I’m really proud of it. In the past, the songwriting felt authentic to me, but the recordings didn't always reflect that. Producing this myself was my path to truly sounding like me. When I take the reins, I don’t second-guess; I simply follow my instincts. Right now, the key to ensuring the songs feel like me is to do everything myself.
That really resonates. The purity of these songs comes across, and your approach makes complete sense. Let’s discuss a couple of tracks, starting with "Big House on a Mountain." I adore this song. It feels like a natural continuation of the closing track from *Live From Mother Earth* – "Oregon."
Annika Bennett: I hadn’t considered that, but I absolutely see what you’re saying.
It’s a great progression! Tell me about the writing process for this song.
Annika Bennett: I began writing it in January during the wildfires in LA. I remember feeling a mix of emotions. Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I certainly felt overwhelmed. It was such a disorienting time. Do you know Olivia Barton?
Yes, I saw her open for Lizzy McAlpine; she was amazing!
Annika Bennett: She’s one of my closest friends, and we create a lot of music together. I recall her mentioning that when you're unsure what to write, you should start by observing your surroundings – just beginning with the surface. So, I started looking around and wrote in a simple way, acknowledging what I was feeling sad about, and the rest of the song just unfolded from there.
It has a very Joni Mitchell vibe. That’s the feeling I get from it. Now, "F**k Up" is my current favorite. The piano riff captures me throughout, and I love the songwriting in the first verse. Can you share how that song came together?
Annika Bennett: Thanks! I wrote all these songs sequentially, starting with the first line, then moving to the next, and discovering the chorus along the
Composed and produced solely by her, ‘Triple Shooting Star’ showcases Annika Bennett exploring how to embrace her emotions as they come—following her instincts, exercising restraint, and uncovering what it truly means to express her authentic self.