music
'People say there are no words, but there are thousands': Liz Lawrence on making a new kind of grief album after her sister’s death
When her sibling died in an accident the singer-songwriter sought comfort in music. But after finding that the most celebrated records about loss were angry, loud and male, she set about creating something very different
TL;DR
- Singer-songwriter Liz Lawrence's fifth album, 'Vespers,' is a tribute to her sister Jessie, who died suddenly in 2024.
- The album moves away from Lawrence's previous indie pop sound to an elegiac, stripped-back folk style, peppered with string arrangements.
- Lawrence struggled to find music that expressed open sadness after her sister's death, noting a lack of suitable albums, particularly those made by women, on online forums.
- The creation of 'Vespers' was a three-week burst of creativity six months after the accident, aimed at providing a space for contemplation and sadness.
- Lawrence aimed to create music that acknowledged the difficult, unmarketable aspects of grief, rather than focusing on commerce or merchandise.
- The album explores themes of sudden loss, lingering memories, and the disorienting experience of grief, referencing specific songs like 'Exploded Into Flowers', 'Sister', and 'Where Did You Go'.
- Lawrence reflects on the profound presence she felt in the hospital during her sister's final days and the mundane yet comforting return to everyday life.
- She emphasizes that grief lacks a clear narrative and feels more like the ebb and flow of a tide.
- Lawrence finds success in the album by connecting with listeners who have also experienced loss, making peace with the transition of personal grief into a commerceable product.