I am a sucker for a true song written from the heart. It makes my soul sing to discover a new artist who has been creating amazing work in silence and obscurity. It feels to me as if I’ve found a treasure that I can now share with others, and this is exactly how I felt when I came across Mari Rosehill’s emotionally driven and very human album titled Perception of a Self.
Starting with her beautifully simple and reflective song Single File Line, Mari opens with the poignant line, “There ain’t no skip in my step quite like the old me.” I would dare to say that there isn’t an adult alive today who cannot connect with such a powerful line. This is a sweet little song that serves as the perfect introduction to this spirited songwriter. I found myself, multiple times during this song, reflecting on what was being said, because what was being said felt so very important to the artist, which in turn made it feel important to me. I am trying to classify this music of Mari Rosehill’s. Is it indie folk? Perhaps. Is it alt-indie rock? Maybe. Whatever it is, I could easily see this being placed on the soundtrack of a movie.
They Love You (Not) is the next song from Mari’s album. It opens with a soft guitar, met with the singer’s angelic vocals, and if I were to draw any comparisons here, I would have to say that artists like Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo come to mind. They Love You (Not) is the type of song that pairs well with either a quiet summer morning or an evening rain. It’s a vibe, kind of like that.
The next song, titled Picnic Bench, is faster than the first two tracks and adds some unexpected drumming, which effectively draws you into the song in a toe-tapping sort of way, once again leaving room to absorb these hauntingly personal lyrics. Kurt Cobain once famously said, “I miss the comfort in being sad,” and I am somehow connecting with those words through the sheer honesty and laid-back appeal of this album. This is not to say that this album is making me sad, but rather it is forcing me to be reflective, which, in all honesty, usually feels a bit melancholy. Comfortably melancholy, that is.
I just like the name of this next song. Shy Caterpillar in itself is a story from start to finish. For two words, it says a lot about the song I am about to hear. I have not even pressed play yet, and already I am thinking about the personal evolution and growth of someone who finds themselves constantly in a state of introversion. Now, let’s see if I am even close to understanding the message of this song…
Shy Caterpillar could respectfully be covered by Florence and The Machine. It is a stunning song that showcases Mari’s impressive vocal control. She hits notes that feel as if they might fall apart from their fragility and softness, and yet she pulls them off almost effortlessly. One thing worth noting is Mari’s artistic approach to this song’s structure. She adds these moments of talking that almost feel awkwardly placed but somehow manage to tie it all together and strengthen the message. Shy Caterpillar is another wonderful song from this album.
Moving further into this exceptional piece of art is the aptly titled song Fleeting Attempt at Normalcy, and that title alone deserves some applause for how much emotion can be packed into it. Many artists, in any field, often try to play to the audience they want to entertain, and often that means the lyrics are less personal and more universal. This is not the case for Mari Rosehill, as she has filled her songs with moments so personal that this might be considered a diary with a soundtrack rather than just an album. Fleeting Attempt at Normalcy is easily one of my favorite songs from this album.
Teenage Invention is an instantly likable song that captures the rebellious nature of being a teenager, seen through the eyes of an older self. It feels less like an apology for those childhood mistakes and more like a respectful admission that those things needed to happen to get here. This is a song filled with so much nostalgia that it spills out of every verse into a chorus that stays stuck in your head. I might even have to say that if you choose only one song to listen to from this album, this would be the one.
Ok, let’s take a moment here to talk about me.
I saw the cover art for this album, which is beautifully done, and I felt like I knew this place, like I grew up here… and the next song, Craig’s Way Station, showed me why that is. That is because I did grow up here. This was my backyard, and Craig’s Way Station was one of our breakfast spots, as I grew up in that once quiet little mountain town of Canmore, Alberta, Canada.
Craig’s Way Station is, simply put, a reflection on the hospitality found in this diner. It captures the friendly nature of Canmore itself and feels like a love letter to a different time, a slower time, in that beautiful town that the world once didn’t know about. It is hard to say whether this song will find an audience outside those who know, but I think if you have an open mind and can appreciate the gratitude packed in here, you just might find yourself on a mini vacation into that old backyard of ours.
Rest Well is a soft song with stunning vocals and true heart. It is a song that leaves enough room for you to sink into and reflect on your own family relationships. When the drums come in, they are handled with deep care. They are mixed as softly as Mari Rosehill’s voice, and they never feel as if they overpower the song or attempt to steal the spotlight. All in all, this is perfectly mastered.
Leave It at That opens with the lines, “You told me I deserve to be happy, so do you, I guess. But I’m not going to be the one to tell you that.” And that right there is exactly how a wounded heart feels after the breakdown of a relationship. It is the silent struggle of a good heart trying not to act badly, of a heart that knows everything must change even if it doesn’t want to. Leave It at That is going to make more than a few people tear up at the harsh reality found in the unwanted changing of seasons in our relationships.
We are into the final songs from Perception of a Self now, and here we are at the song of the same name. For that reason, I must listen a little deeper, because this song must be truly important to the artist if it doubles as the album title. This song, from what I understand, is not about the world around Mari. It is not about others or their concerns, but rather it feels like Mari staring directly into a mirror and being unfiltered and honest with herself. This is a song that deals with the complexity of feeling different underneath the mask you must wear to protect the wounded person just beneath. The song acts as a bit of a rebellious escape from the cage the artist has built around herself. It is the acknowledgment of the ego and the effort to put that ego in its rightful place. It feels cautiously optimistic and is the right song to lend its name to the album.
All of These Things is a celebration of the world around us. It is a song about gratitude and appreciation, and if you grew up within the incredible mountain ranges of Canmore and Kananaskis Country, you would know just how easy it is to feel this way. I don’t know what this songwriter believes, but I do know that Mari feels the interconnectedness of it all, because this song is a beautiful celebration of the divinity found in it all. A gorgeous song through and through.
Here we are, at the final song from this exceptional album by Mari Rosehill. Quarter Century Body is that first age milestone that forces us to reflect on what we have done and what we hope to do in the future. It deals with the hurt found in being ignorant, innocent, and in search of love that others may mishandle. Quarter Century Body feels like the ending of a chapter and the passing of a season. It is the caterpillar finally leaving the cocoon but still looking back as the newly emerged butterfly flies away.
One thing about Mari Rosehill’s songwriting style is that she does not overstay her welcome. Each song is a powerful and brief field trip through the artist’s life. Perception of a Self is an incredible album that acts as a testament to the emotional power found in the universal language of music. It is a reminder that there is so much incredible art out there to be discovered, but first we must find it, and then we must share it, which is why this review exists.
Thank you, Mari Rosehill, for inviting us into your world a little bit, because your album Perception of a Self adds undeniable color to the rest of ours.
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