Anna
Shoemaker
A bold non-typical breakup album, Anna Shoemaker's sophomore release 'Someone Should Stop Her' showcases the indie pop rocker's anthemic sound.
Anna Shoemaker's sophomore album, 'Someone Should Stop Her', is a master class in wit. There's a slight sarcasm strewn throughout the sophomore album along with pop culture references on everything from actor, Jacob Elordi to Game of Thrones. While it is technically a break up album, there's so much self-empowerment, strength and resiliency to discover in each song.
Written during her 2023 tour with Aiden Bissett, she says at the time she was beginning to discover a new kind of confidence, highlighted in songs like 'Not Your Baby' and 'Miniskirt'. With any lost love kind of album, there are always those juxtaposed feelings of wanting to run away against the deep need to be with that person. With the pulsating guitars that feed into that running feeling, there's also Anna's voice shining on top with self-deprecating humor to guide us through.
'Someone Should Stop Her' is full of repeatable lyrics & catchy choruses, but it's also such an important mark on Anna Shoemaker's art. She rose to the occasion and perfectly showcased what makes her one of those artists you have to pay attention to. 'Someone Should Stop Her' is available on all platforms now!
GRRRL Music: Someone Should Stop Her feels like a bold declaration of self-discovery and independence. What moment, if any, during the writing process made you realize this album was different from anything you had done before?
Anna Shoemaker: I think the amount of reshaping and edits we made. We really combed through so many versions of every song and that’s not really a way I’d ever worked before. To me it feels like every decision we made was very intentional.
GM: In many ways, Someone Should Stop Her is a breakup album, but it’s also about self-empowerment. Do you think those two things are always intertwined—losing someone but gaining yourself?
AS: I’d like to think so. I know in my experience with breakups at least it always has been. It can be so hard in the beginning but learning to be there for yourself and heal is really important and beautiful.
GM: Back Again has a raucous, anthemic energy, and one of my favorite lyrics comes from its chorus: "I really wanna scream / I really wanna see you / You're my baby / There I said it." What was running through your mind when you wrote that? Was it cathartic to put it into words?
AS: It was a lot of mumbling the melody at first and just finding what fit! That one definitely feels cathartic to play live, to me it’s a love song!
GM: Your lyrics are often witty, laced with pop culture references and sharp observations. How do you balance humor and heartbreak in your songwriting?
AS: Thank you so much! That is really so sweet to hear. I really try not to take things too seriously. I really like sharp juxtapositions, laughing about heartbreak, crying about falling in love. It makes sense to me.
GM: You’ve described this album as a return to your roots with more natural instrumentation, stripping away the electronic elements. How did that shift in sound reflect where you were emotionally?
AS: I think it all has to do with wanting to feel at home. That’s what it feels like working with Constantine (the producer of the record). We would just sit and write on guitar and both wanted that to shine through. Like first and foremost these are songs you can play just on acoustic.
GM: Now that you’ve made this record, do you feel like you’ve found what you were searching for on those road trips, or is this just the beginning of a new journey?
AS: I think a little bit of both, I think I found what I was searching for and I’m excited to bring it with me with everything I make now. Isn’t that growing?? Just always having more information and using it.