Fireflies and Buffalo by Anna May
A long and deep reflection on the natural world. And a lot else.
I have been writing about Anna May all summer, and you can read my two previous pieces below if you are unsure who she is. I wrote about her last song, The Cliff, in a very hot Spain, which gave a new insight into her music. I have come to think of her as Mary Oliver with a guitar this time: she writes about the natural world on the surface, but the meanings are deeply personal beneath.
I wonder why
A buffalo could never fly
Feet planted to the ground
Kicking hooves around
Is the buffalo you or is it I?
One notable factor in Anna May songs is their length. She has released two versions of Fireflies and Buffalo today, and the radio edit (shorter) version clocks in at past eight minutes. Personally I prefer the longer version and for the sake of three minutes, you might as well play that one on streaming.
It’s a death wish
Or it’s kismet
The path that led to you
Now my life’s already through
This is not the sort of music I often listen to, and it’s all the more rewarding for that. It is genuinely mindful and relaxing. It is certainly folk music to my way of thinking, which makes it feel English or even Scottish. I do think Anna May could have a big future on this side of the pond and has already appeared on Scottish radio.
I have really enjoyed these stripped back tunes. They felt good in the summer but on listening again now I can imagine them sung in the fall by the embers of a campfire. They’re songs for any time of year, but songs with a specific mood. Reflective, wistful, longing, slow. This allows her vocal range and guitar talents to shine through.
Anna May has an exhausting live schedule in the USA so you should be able to catch her somewhere relatively local to you.
Anna May thinks deeply about her world and her music, and performs so often it is tiring just following her on Instagram. You can catch up with Anna May on her own website and on all the usual streaming services. Anna is also active on YouTube.
Anna May (Folk / Jazz / Doo Wop / Country / Sheer Quality)
The word that came to mind when first listening to Anna May was effortless. In the new video, which you can see at the bottom of this post, she barely touches the guitar strings. Her mouth barely opens. But what sound! Although her Instagram handle nails her to the label
The Cliff by Anna May
I am writing this review from Spain. There are many beaches nearby but no cliffs, only enormous mountains in the near distance. To me, the cliff is symbolic of the British seaside as so much of our coastline is chalk.