Marissa Burwell - Bittersweet

Bittersweet is the debut LP by singer-songwriter Marissa Burwell. Her career has followed an organic trajectory from acoustic performances in small coffeeshops through to appearances at international festivals including Reeperbahn, Liverpool Sound City, and Breakout West. And now, on the heels of her self-titled EP, Burwell remerges as a fully realized artist.

Bittersweet demonstrates remarkable growth, both as a songwriter and with her sonic palette. Her warm, summery voice and wry wit remain but beneath its indie-folk exterior the album is adorned with lush keys, warm synth passages, and subtle drum programming. Lyrically it is her most personal work, full of images of dinner parties, church, gardens and dads with wandering hands. “I’m 22 and I’m sitting in my room and I don’t know what to do with myself,” she sings on Trying To Help. Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan she writes one eye focused on childhood, the other gazing toward a hopeful future, and both feet planted firmly in the snow.

The album was produced by Burwell along with her band. She’s joined by Chris Dimas (Bleeker, Surf Dads), Gage McGuire (Surf Dads, Big Day) and Madison Nicol. It features additional contributions from Chris Morien (Close Talker) and Brennan Ross (Library Voices).