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Peak Season 3:500:00/3:50
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0:00/5:40
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0:00/4:54
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Fields of Thistle 2:320:00/2:32
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0:00/3:48
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Sycamore 3:260:00/3:26
Brenna Slate’s music, better known by her pseudonym Lounna, has been described as “soothing and gentle, but powerful and beautiful”. This Pittsburgh-based, multi-instrumental songwriter has been writing music for fifteen years, and in 2022 when promoting her debut album [When I’m Home] she began performing regularly in local venues throughout Westmoreland and Allegheny counties [Pennsylvania]. Slate also made a radio appearance for an interview with SLB Radio on July 9th, 2022 to promote her debut album. Her shows began expanding as she opened for national touring acts such as Trapper Schoepp and Sunny War at Club Café in 2023. Lounna’s live sets transition seamlessly from softer originals – like ‘Lavender Wine’ which has been described as “enraptured picking – both banjo and guitar – feathery vocal plumes” (Bored in Pittsburgh) – to more recently captivating and indie-rock infused originals played on electric guitar.
Inspired by modern indie-folk acts Bear’s Den, First Aid Kit, Gregory Alan Isakov, and indie rock acts such as Boygenius and Hozier, Slate’s [Lounna’s] songwriting is quite captivating with “catchy melodies and a sprinkle of magic” (SoundVille). In the debut era, the songs were gentle-mannered, described by Lounna herself as “a relaxing afternoon, sunlight-streaming-through-the-windows kind of music”. The themes often encapsulated whimsical yearnings for adventure, self-discovery, and longing. Going into 2024 with growth and acceptance, she is entering into a new era with deeper-rooted themes and instrumentation, with songs progressively portraying mental health, difficult life tragedies, and lessons learned, while simultaneously highlighting what it means to remain hopeful even amidst the darkness. Slate had spent many hours throughout 2023 honing in on her unique blend of indie, folk, alternative, and Americana genres while in the studio creating her sophomore album alongside Daniel Blake. (Check out Lounna’s Second Album Fundraiser.) In early 2024, Slate's husband began chemotherapy treatment for newly-diagnosed lymphoma, causing a halt in the plans to release Lounna's sophomore record in the spring. As a reminder to herself and the rest of the world that the dark never lasts for too long, Lounna released single Peak Season on February 16th, 2024. It is the first official release from the new record, which is set to be released in late 2024.
Lounna’s self-produced debut album When I’m Home which was released in July 2022 and has been highly rated by indie album review blogs such as Pitch Perfect and Indie Boulevard. “An aerial, bright, and transfixed force of nature, this album is a folk acoustic wildflower.” – Indie Boulevard. As a complimentary release to her debut album, Lounna released a double-sided single in June 2023: ‘Wolves (Alternate Version)’ and ‘Lavender Wine (Light Version)’, both in collaboration with Westmoreland County music engineer and producer Daniel Blake. A DIY music video filmed by Tabby Cooper – directed and edited by Brenna Slate – was released on YouTube alongside ‘Wolves’.
A quote from Brenna Slate: “Lately I have been trying to imagine what it is that my ‘story’ should be as a musician. We all have one as individual people, as musicians, as whatever it is we are. … I’ve decided that I create the songs that I do because of my sensitivity and softness. I’ve struggled with mental health. I’ve had some really difficult experiences. But all in all, I choose to love those around me and always try to be the best I can be for both those people and for myself. Especially these days, it is important to stay soft in a hard world. … I could compare myself to a wildflower, continuing to grow even in the cracks of pavement.”