Anoush, an artist deeply connected to Northern California, infuses her work with a diverse cultural and musical background. Growing up in the Armenian Church and being exposed to ancient hymns, along with receiving classical piano lessons, has given her a deep admiration for music from composers such as Chopin, Beethoven, Komitas, and Aram Khachaturian. Nevertheless, her impact extends beyond classical music. Contemporary musicians like Lana Del Rey, The Doors, Queen, and Amy Winehouse have similarly motivated her through their boundary-pushing and exploration of innovative paths. Her diverse music incorporates a wide range of genres, including classical, jazz, rock, reggae, and more, showcasing her eclectic taste across various styles. Anoush’s artistic path is closely connected to her love for travel and discovery, leading her to various parts of the world where she embraces different cultures. Her music has been greatly impacted by her willingness to embrace new experiences, combining a variety of cultural influences with her own musical background.
Throughout the lockdowns of 2020, she experienced a surge in creativity that prompted her to explore music production in order to harness the inspiration that was coming her way. This burst of productivity peaked with the launch of her first album, titled “ONE,” in 2023, attracting a large audience of listeners from more than 150 countries with hundreds of thousands of streams. Apart from her musical endeavors, Anoush is a wife, mother, Christian mystic, and Voluntaryist. She leads a well-rounded life, engaging in a variety of activities that demonstrate her balanced and connected way of living, such as playing the piano, tending to her permaculture food forest garden, going on leisurely walks with her dogs, and enjoying quality time with her loved ones. Her music reflects her diverse identity through various aspects of her life, adding depth and richness to her work.
Anoush’s most recent album, “TWO,” which came out on September 5th, 2024, delves deeply into existential ideas, spirituality, and the delicate equilibrium between opposing light and dark energies. The album continues and grows from the musical journey she started with her first album, “ONE”. Nevertheless, “TWO” explores the more complex and reflective elements of her creativity, encouraging audiences to immerse themselves in a universe of enchanting narratives and vivid musical visuals. Each of the 12 songs on the album provides a distinct listening experience that combines Anoush’s classical background with contemporary sounds, resulting in a captivating and original collection of music. Her skill in blending these components seamlessly showcases her dedication to artistic uniqueness and creativity. Every song is created thoughtfully, highlighting her poetic style of writing songs and her skill in expressing original viewpoints in her art.
TWO Album Track List:
Divide & Conquer:
The first track of Anoush’s album “TWO,” titled “Divide & Conquer,” establishes the mood for the whole album with its emotional and ambient melody. The song starts with a calming yet eerie tune that instantly captivates the listener. The beginning sets up excitement by introducing a soft, otherworldly atmosphere that gets the audience ready for what’s to come. The tune is very emotionally touching, expressing a feeling of self-reflection and consideration that is present in the whole album.
At 22 seconds, “Divide & Conquer” experiences a major change that alters the song’s energy. A forceful rhythm is brought in, infusing a fresh vitality into the piece. This rhythmic and infectious beat becomes the focal point, displacing the original melody to the background. The shift is smooth, but it drastically alters the tone of the song, injecting it with a feeling of haste and forward movement. The contrast between the beat and the starting melody enhances the track by adding depth and complexity. It marks a point where Anoush demonstrates expertise in combining various musical elements to produce a complex and diverse sound.
The singing on “Divide & Conquer” is equally mesmerizing. Anoush’s relaxed voice effortlessly blends into the composition without demanding attention. The relaxed manner in which it is presented contributes to the immersive nature of the track, enabling the listener to completely connect with the music. Although she spoke calmly, there was a slight rise in vocal tone during a part of the song that provided added emotion to the performance. The backing vocals, performed at a steady speed, nicely enhance the main vocals, bringing depth and dimension to the complete sound. The vocals and instrumentation combine to produce a song that is mesmerizing and deeply meaningful, establishing “Divide & Conquer” as a compelling introduction to the album.
Lies:
“Lies”, the fifth song on Anoush’s album “TWO,” is a concise but powerful track that resonates long after its 1 minute and 43 seconds runtime. The song starts with a soft, heartfelt tune that quickly establishes a contemplative and introspective atmosphere. This tune comes with a gentle yet strong rhythm, achieving a fragile equilibrium between brightness and heaviness in the music. The mix of these components creates a base that is calming yet slightly disturbing, captivating the listener’s emotions right from the start.
As the song continues, the vocals at the 21-second point bring a hauntingly soulful element to the music. Anoush’s singing in “Lies” is impressive, as she skillfully alters her vocal tone to express feelings of sadness and self-reflection. Her voice’s haunting quality is mesmerizing and touching, bringing a deep emotional intensity to the track that profoundly connects with the listener. Her soft voice, along with the subtle rhythm and melody, evokes a noticeable vulnerability in the song.
“Lies” remains steady and consistent without any sudden alterations in its musical style or direction, maintaining a smooth flow from beginning to end. This direct method enables the listener to completely engage in the ambiance of the song, appreciating its eerie beauty uninterrupted. Despite its short length, the emotional depth of the vocals and instrumentation, along with the straightforward arrangement, gives “Lies” a strong and moving quality. Anoush’s talent in communicating profound feelings through restrained, understated music is highlighted in the standout track on the album “TWO”.
Dark Woods:
The ninth song on Anoush’s album “TWO,” titled “Dark Woods,” effectively captures the spooky and enigmatic vibe implied by its name. The song begins with the eerie cries of a creature, plunging the listener into a dark, almost supernatural ambiance right away. This audio environment shifts rapidly into a soft, leisurely tune that establishes a reflective mood for the piece. Anoush’s gentle and emotional vocals blend with the melody, enhancing the depth and drawing the listener deeper into the captivating world the track portrays.
As the song advances, the music subtly changes. The soft, soulful melody is gradually replaced by a well-crafted beat that now serves as the musical background. Even with this change, Anoush’s vocal delivery stays the same in its gentle and otherworldly quality. She effortlessly sings with a surreal and dreamlike voice, creating a delicate balance between the haunting and the serene as the music evolves. Anoush’s skill in combining vocals and instrumentation creates a cohesive and immersive sound that remains true to the track’s thematic core.
In “Dark Woods”, the music and the imagery it brings to mind work together in perfect harmony. Anoush’s voice adds a surreal touch that perfectly matches the mystical and cinematic vibe of the track, making it stand out on the album. Anoush’s talent in creating songs that are evocative and layered is showcased through the music’s smooth transitions while still preserving its emotional depth. “Dark Woods” is a captivating exploration of sound that captures the listener’s creative mind and leaves a lasting impact with its eerie beauty.
Glistening:
The final song “Glistening” on Anoush’s album “TWO” effectively concludes with a reflective and subtle display of emotional depth, capturing the essence of the album. The song begins with a soft, shimmering sound that matches its name, instantly establishing a calm and otherworldly vibe. This dazzling opening creates the mood for what will come next, welcoming the audience into a sonic landscape that is peaceful and full of feeling. The music in this song is gentle and subtle, allowing the sincere melody to delicately reveal itself and make a lasting impact on listeners.
While the track advances, Anoush’s singing style reflects the delicacy of the music. She has a soft and gentle voice that blends perfectly with the delicate and tingly soundscape. This match of vocals and music generates a feeling of closeness, as though the listener is being softly led through the concluding stages of a deep musical voyage. Her vocal performance’s subtlety is crucial for the emotional impact of the track, enabling the melody’s nuances and underlying sentiment to be highlighted without being too overwhelming for the listener.
“Glistening” is remarkable not just for its mesmerizing beauty but also for its capacity to connect with the listener on a more profound level. The subtle and gentle features of the track create a feeling of calm contemplation, serving as a haunting yet touching ending to the album. It captures the ideas of self-reflection and investigating emotions found in “TWO,” giving the listener a sense of completion and a lasting impression of the album’s emotional depth. With the last melodies diminishing, “Glistening” makes a memorable impact, concluding Anoush’s captivating and emotional album effectively.
In terms of music, the album expertly mixes various genres and inspirations. Anoush’s wide range of musical preferences is apparent in how she combines classical elements with contemporary production methods. The instruments and singing are carefully organized, forming a complex yet approachable sonic environment. The unique charm of “TWO” stands out in the modern music scene due to its blend of classical and modern elements. It is also important to mention the production quality of the album. Anoush’s choice to delve into music production during the lockdowns of 2020 has resulted in a well-executed and high-quality album titled “TWO”. The focus on small details during mixing and mastering guarantees that every track is optimized, with all instruments and vocals evenly balanced for the best sound quality.
To sum up, “TWO” is a captivating and deep album that highlights Anoush’s development as a musician. Her skill lies in combining various influences to produce a one-of-a-kind creation. Anoush’s narrative skills are engaging and stimulating, pulling the audience into a realm where each musical element carries significance. The album goes beyond being a mere compilation of songs, serving as a unified and engaging journey that encourages listeners to delve into the inner workings of their own minds. Anoush has created a piece of art that is timeless, relevant, and will resonate with audiences for many years.
For more information about Anoush, click on the icons below.
