Q: I love the storytelling in “Greatest Love.” Can you give us an insight into the story behind it?
ANNA ELIZABETH LUTHER: Thank you! This song is all about that love that, for whatever reason, couldn’t last. And the mental and emotional processing that comes after. I think sometimes after breakups we hold on to that idea of “we could’ve been so great, had it not been for x, y , or z…” Essentially this whole piece is a song of “right person, wrong time”.
Q: I was also immediately attracted to the cover art of this release. Is there a deeper meaning to it?
LUTHER: There is so much to this cover art, surprisingly haha. The original artwork is “The Kiss” painted by Francesco Hayez in 1859. Not only is it a great depiction of art in the Romantic Era, but it is one of the most passionate portrayals of a kiss in Western art. The cover art itself is in collaboration with April Henry, the artist behind the Instagram @textsfromyourexistentialist. To modernize the story and the art, there is something so heartbreaking about how intense, passionate loves can all come to an end over text nowadays. I thought April’s art encompassed that perfectly.
Q: What inspired you to write the song in the first place?
LUTHER: This song was inspired by the book “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë. There was specifically one passage that compares heartache to a string that is attached to two persons at the rib, and as one pulls away the other one gets harmed. It was such a powerful sentiment, I was curious as to if a song could encompass that feeling.
Q: Can you tell us more about your creative process?
LUTHER: Sometimes I’m inspired by pieces of art, sometimes I create a piano or guitar loop and create a story from there. Sometimes I even write live with my audience on Twitch.tv – allowing the process to be seen in full!
Q: Any artist that you feel connected to regarding their storytelling, style, or aesthetics?
LUTHER: I’ve always been a huge fan of Bon Iver- I love that Justin Vernon manages to create entire atmospheres with his music, making it an immersive experience. I also am a huge fan of Phoebe Bridgers and the band Daughter, I really like their moody aesthetic. Lastly, Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer are both big storytelling influences!
Q: What is the next exciting thing for us to look forward to?
LUTHER: Lots of exciting things are in the works for 2022! Acoustic covers, new produced releases, NFTs, live performances, you name it, it’s coming:)
Interviewed by Katrina Yang
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