Heat Up Midwinter with Hannah Wicklund’s Scorching Live Recording of “Witness”
We’re in the midst of the midwinter blues, and it’s tempting to stay inside buried underneath a pile of blankets instead of venturing into the cold to see shows. Now you can have the best of both worlds because Hannah Wicklund has released the live recording of “Witness,” her latest single from her upcoming album ‘Live at The Troubadour.’ The album is a live recording of her HELL IN THE HALLWAY tour show from last March at the iconic West Hollywood venue that has hosted legendary acts like Elton John since 1957.
The rock power ballad is back, and “Witness” captures the tricky balance between empowerment and sympathy, rage and triumph, freedom and longing. “Witness” isn’t a shy song, and neither is Wicklund’s voice. The track’s opening keyboard plucking takes on a harder edge when paired with her raspy vocals, and the unflinching lyrics—“Go be the beast you’re meant to be / ‘cause I’m embracing the heartache”—deliver on the song’s intense emotional undercurrent. The break into Wicklund’s scorching guitar solo with a talk box will make you wish that every song had the effect because it’s nothing short of badass.
The callbacks to childhood and the feminist themes within Wicklund’s songwriting are further embraced by her forest fairy aesthetic on stage. In the video of the live performance of “Witness,” Wicklund plays barefoot in an ethereal dress, a crown glittering in the halo of her curly mane. The whimsical, dreamy effect doesn’t soften the edge of her music with its femininity but instead reinforces it by saying, Yes, there is a place for tulle and female perspectives within rock. I can feel pretty and write poignant songs at the same time. Now watch my crown sparkle as I absolutely shred on guitar.
Photo via @hannahwicklund on Instagram
“Witness” was first released on her album ‘The Prize’ that was named the best rock album of 2024 by Rolling Stone Brazil. The recognition alongside major names such as Jack White and Pearl Jam is a testament to Wicklund’s ability to hold her own as a self-managed artist publishing on her own label, Strawberry Moon Records. ‘The Prize’ follows her 2018 debut album, Hannah Wicklund and the Steppin Stones, with its breakout song “Bomb Through the Breeze.” Wicklund has been songwriting and performing since childhood, so the maturity of her voice and experience on stage will be front and center on the upcoming live album.
If you can’t wait until March 7th to listen to ‘Live at the Troubadour,’ Wicklund has also released the live recordings of “Jam in E Minor,” “Bomb Through the Breeze,” “Mama Said,” and “Strawberry Moon” ahead of the album’s release.
Listen to Wicklund’s music here, check out her upcoming tour dates, and get your hands on the vinyl and CD recordings of ‘Live at the Troubadour’ from her online store.
