Downer is a cumulation of anxieties, imaginings and big feelings surrounding climate change. She finds herself making major life decisions based on the bleak future she see’s for humans and the more innocent animals living on this planet. And she’s procrastinating those decisions until she know for sure… will governments act? Will societal values change? Will the demonstrations and social action make any difference at all? Is this futile? Are we doomed? I don’t see meaningful change happening fast enough, and I am frozen in time. And I’m kind of pissed off.
The first track and single, Forgive You is a spacious alt-folk song with a vibe similar to that of Land of Talk, Big Thief or Neko Case. It starts off with a subtle chorus and builds up into a driving indie track. Close listeners will discover that Forgive You is a protest song and a plea for reconciliation, equality and empathy. For her, it’s a song about economic injustice, environmental destruction and the climate crisis. But the song remains open to interpretation in a time of social unrest and demand for change.
Most of this album was recorded in 2020, during Covid times. A short-term layoff from my day job and the sudden falling-off of social and volunteer obligations left space for songwriting and for getting back to the unfinished, Downer. The album is produced by herself and partner, Rob Currie, who also engineered and mixed the record. A multi-instrumentalist, Rob adds electric guitar and bass to a few songs. His brother, Andrew Currie plays drums on two tracks and bass on another. As usual, she provides vocals and acoustic guitar but the project also gave her the opportunity to add keys and instruments that she is less familiar with: bass for I Would Rather Run and some sparse kit percussion on All of the Above.
Rob and Bet like to get a little bit experimental in the studio. Rob loves to create interesting effects with vintage equipment. The title track, Downer, makes use of a Kay guitar built in the 1940s that barely stayed in tune and that I found nearly impossible to play. We thought it added interest to a folk song that takes place in the early years of a dystopian future.
Whenever possible, and in many different ways, she tries to make a point of talking about climate change. We still don’t talk about it enough to make up for all the years spent with our heads in the sand. She attends demonstrations, volunteer with climate action organizations, write and talk publicly about soil carbon sequestration, and sing about it too, when there’s time left for that. Not many people are record-shopping for music about climate change, I guess. But this is what she offers, to those who fret and wish for empathy. Or maybe these are just love songs.
Additional Artist and Release Info:
Bet Smith is a Canadian alternative folk singer-songwriter who weaves environmental and socio-political philosophy into rich, reflective compositions. With a voice that is gentle and familiar, Smith offers elegant melodies locked to lyrics that are paced and precise.
