Review Text
Powered by her signature take on blues and rock, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cristina Vane's debut album, Nowhere Sounds Lovely, earned her praise from the likes of American Songwriter and Rolling Stone Country, which deemed it 'mesmerizing stuff'. The 2021 release was written largely on a road trip across America. Since then, Vane has laid down roots in Nashville and had the opportunity to spend more time exploring internally. On her sophomore album "Make Myself Me Again", Vane has found a way all the way around the country and right back to herself, both musically and personally. Many songs on Make Myself Me Again delve into Vane's personal relationships, and document her quest to find strength and independence in a new town. The album's title track rings of tenacious resilience, with Cristina's beautiful yet understated fingerstyle and slide guitar playing. It is the sound of the calm that comes with finally feeling at home with one's self. "Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win" sings Vane, "I'm gonna make myself me again... I'm giving up on giving in / I'm gonna make myself me again". One can hear Nashville's influence throughout the album; From the twang in her song "Small Town Nashville Blues", to the country-influenced melodic songwriting on "Old Enough". Despite the myriad of musical touchstones, the record remains cohesive, centering itself around Vane's experiences and musicianship. "After being exposed to all of this music that I love, I'm slowly figuring out how to find my own voice", she says, "It is the sound of growing up". With class and adventure, Vane brings us all back home to ourselves on Make Myself Me Again, an album so honest that you'd be hard-pressed not to root for it, along with it's vulnerable and tenacious creator.
