Once an artist decides to interpret a cover rather than perform it faithfully, they generally opt to either increase or decrease the energy of the original performance, instilling it with either more rock drive or quiet intimacy. In their original songs, Providence folkies The Low Anthem sit decidedly on the most delicate side of that spectrum, to the point that it wouldn’t seem possible to make their songs more mellow. Much to my our surprise, though, Brooklyn-based Firehorse frontwoman Leah Siegel pulls off that exact feat in her new video for The Voice Project, with strikingly beautiful results.
Seated poignantly before artificial foliage with her deep-toned Alvarez acoustic guitar, Siegel scratches out the lyrics in hoarse, emotional whispers that contrast Ben Miller’s howling falsetto without losing the tension fundamental to the song. Her guitar strumming and clear annunciation make the song simpler and easier to understand, coaxing every bit of disillusionment and isolation out of the lyrics. Siegel emphasizes those sentiments with her body language as well as her singing, as she appears to be on the verge of tears throughout the song. Watch this incredibly moving performance below.
Check out more from Firehorse on their website.
