Amelie Patterson - “The War”

Photo by Heather Saitz

We so often find ourselves gravitating towards songs about heartache that we forget there are completely different levels to the subject matter. As a reminder that there’s much more to a relationship than just its demise, Western Canada-based singer-songwriter Amelie Patterson is here with “The War,” a song about “riding into battle with a loved one.”

We are big fans of some delicately plucked acoustic guitar and that’s exactly what you’ll find as soon as you press play on “The War.” The vibe is very raw, almost as though it is a glimpse into a private performance. Patterson’s vocals add to this idea, as she initially delivers the lyrics quite softly, at times not much more than a whisper. And it was here that we fell in love with this track.

At just past the one-minute mark, some distant percussion joins the arrangement, setting the second verse up for some sweet elevation. “The War” is then joined with a bit of bass and a more powerful vocal, ensuring that the production holds the attention of all listeners. Some synthy strings glide through the background, bringing the track a slight sense of urgency as it moves forward, but a major highlight here is when Patterson nails it all down with her upper register.

This is our first time hearing from Amelie Patterson, but after witnessing what she can do with her voice in “The War,” we certainly hope it will not be the last. Once you press play, you’ll see exactly what we mean.

Patterson claims that “The War” is one of her favorite songs to play live, adding that “It's about finding your place and your strength to keep going. Living with mental health and addiction is a chaotic and challenging experience, one that is also so human. I've learned so much and this conversation represents what I wish I had known to say and what I think the response would be had they known how to say it."

-TM