When you need music to calm your nervous system or give yourself a hug, turn on some Marie Dresselhuis and let her poetry take you away. Marie is a singer-songwriter from Vancouver who can be compared to artists such as Sara Bareilles or Carole King; she’s most known for her original songs and covers posted on social media. Having opened for huge names like Jacob Collier and Leith Ross, Marie is slowly but surely making a name for herself and her utterly beautiful music.
Marie’s newest release “Leave The Music” crosses into newer territory for her. Known for her unique and intricate piano melodies, this song builds a fuller communal feeling around her lyrics. The song begins with a drum kick and waterfalls open with guitars. Her vocals remain tender and delicate, yet with a tone that cuts deep into your emotions. It invokes a nostalgia for something you don’t know; it seems familiar in a way, but is something entirely new and individual.
She sings “Leave the music for the people / Leave the wondering for the kid / Leave the weapons for the righteous / Leave before you can find out what you did.” Simply stated yet leaving room for interpretation, the song seems to comment on the topic of authenticity and letting natural things happen where they should. This may be a call out to society for letting authenticity be pushed to the back burner. A more current topic of conversation in the world—but also specifically in music—is artificial intelligence and people losing their creativity in the name of surrendering to convenience. In a sense, these simple statements shared throughout the song are highlighting her thoughts on the new wave of artificial music. And as she makes clear, “Leave the music for the people.”
While this song continues to surround you with gorgeous arrangements, she states “We can tell / We can tell / We can tell” in the chorus, letting those know that it is noticeable when you are crossing that line, when you are in territory that you shouldn’t be. While this song can mean many things to many people, its simplicity creates space for her statement to be heard, loud and clear. Having it produced with what sounds like a group of friends playing together creates an exact picture of what she wishes the world to do more of. What you make of the statement is completely up to you. And that's the beauty of a true singer-songwriter, having the ability to tell their stories while prompting you to think of your own.
You can catch Marie Dresselhuis telling her stories live on tour with Tiny Habits this November across North America, and dive into her discography anywhere you stream your music.
