Norwegian songwriter Anna of the North recently wrapped up an extended album cycle for her third studio record Crazy Life, which kicked off with a string of singles preceding the November 4 release of the record, a set of North American tour dates to follow in March, and, finally, a deluxe version of the LP released at the end of April. In spite of this hectic calendar and the chaos implied by the album title, the record itself is a collection of gentle, dreamy pop songs largely honing in on everyday moments we tend to overlook in the grand scheme of things. “I’ve definitely gone into some territory inside of me that I haven’t in the past,” Anna shared upon the release of the album, which also included a meticulously designed blueprint for a cozy home created by Australian designer Montana Kitching for the LP’s gatefold.
While on tour here in the States, Anna took the time to record a “Neighborhoods” session during her stop in LA. Setting up in a friend’s backyard in the Silver Lake neighborhood, she performed the album tracks “Swirl” and “Try My Best” over acoustic guitar and with backing vocals. Far removed from the “Crazy” Tour she was in the midst of, the set strips these tracks down to further their purpose as a soundtrack to the slice-of-life moments that inspired them. Check out the performance below.
