Stella Anning - Yellow Brick Vaneer
Composer, guitarist and performer Stella Anning unveils her most personal project to date with the release of Yellow Brick Veneer, her full-length album.
The album is deeply influenced by themes of motherhood, mental health, identity, and human connection, as well as an intimate reflection on life’s beauty and complexity and is anchored in her jazz and composition background.
The ten-track album is raw and emotionally resonant, balancing lyrical vulnerability with musical finesse. “In the quiet solitude of pregnancy and childbirth, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my past and imagining a future for myself, my child, and my community,” says Anning. “This album is the result of that introspection, words and music that I hope can connect more directly with listeners than anything I’ve previously released.”
Each of the tracks on Yellow Brick Veneer reveals a unique aspect of the human experience. Stella opens the album with the title track and a love letter to her partner, and the perseverance of building a life together.
'Don’t Want to Follow You' is a reflection on a past relationship and boundaries, and power dynamics, while 'Watching You As You Fall' blends humour, chaos, and honesty in a candid take on imposter syndrome.
'Travels' is a tribute to Stella's love of instrumental works and is a meditative offering of peace and reflection amidst intensity, moving the listener into the second half of the album.
One of the previous singles, 'Fair on Him', is a song that challenges the societal habit of choosing comfort over confronting, reflecting on how often accountability is sidelined to protect those who benefit from the status quo.
'Not Good Enough' is a heartfelt ode to self-compassion, a deeply introspective track about overcoming self-doubt and finding the strength to love and support yourself, while 'Dawn' reminds us that rituals like slowing down and watching the moon can bring calm.
'It Will Only Break You' delves into questioning familial structures in the face of breakdown and how one adopts a more compassionate and empathetic approach to life and relationships, while 'When The Trees Are Moving, But The World Is Still' takes listeners through the stillness of isolation and the anticipation of new life when Stella discovered she was pregnant during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The album closes with 'Ash' Stella's heartfelt reflection on the 2020 bushfires and their haunting aftermath, destruction and the unsettling, almost apocalyptic atmosphere that hung over that time.
A stalwart of Melbourne’s jazz and soul communities, Stella Anning has performed with some of Australia’s most respected artists, including Guy Sebastian, Thndo, C.W. Stoneking, Kylie Auldist, and Clare Bowditch.
Her resume spans major festivals such as Bluesfest, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and Clarence Jazz Festival, and she is currently the resident guitarist with the Jazzlab Orchestra. As a composer and bandleader, she’s released two instrumental albums, Paper Planes and STAT, earning her recognition as one of Australia’s top improvising musicians.
With Yellow Brick Veneer, Stella redefines her artistry, bringing her voice, stories, and songwriting to the forefront.
Stella Anning’s latest release ‘Yellow Brick Veneer Out’ is available to stream now via Ditto.
