Brielle Brown’s “Blessing” is the kind of folk anthem that sneaks up on you—one second, you’re sipping your oat-milk latte, thinking you’re safe, and the next, you’re wiping away tears, questioning every life choice you’ve ever made. It’s got heart, it’s got grit, and—most importantly—it’s got that rare ability to make you feel like you’re part of something bigger, even if your only real community is the one you formed in your group chat.
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As the lead single from her upcoming album, In Art & Soil the Same, “Blessing” starts as a hushed whisper, Brown’s voice smooth and steady, the musical equivalent of an arm around your shoulder. She sings, “When the story breaks, you don’t cry / When the hands they shake, you don’t cry / When you fall from grace, you don’t cry / When the waters rise, you don’t cry.” At this point, you start to wonder—should I be crying? Because it sure feels like I should be. And yet, Brown isn’t here to wallow. Instead, she takes that stiff-upper-lip resilience and flips it into something even more powerful—a communal call to push through, to hold on, and yes, eventually, to sing.
Co-written with her husband and producer Marc Swersky (a guy with a résumé that includes Joe Cocker and Natalie Cole), “Blessing” builds with a slow-burning intensity. The harmonies expand, the instrumentation swells, and by the time the chorus hits, it’s like you’ve been inducted into an emotional cult, except instead of weird robes, you just have overwhelming feelings and maybe a newfound appreciation for communal singing.
But let’s not forget that Brown isn’t just a singer-songwriter—she’s also a former trained music therapist, creative activist, and someone who probably has a journal filled with thoughts deep enough to make Thoreau jealous. That depth is evident in the way the song refuses to settle into one mood. It moves from quiet contemplation to full-bodied catharsis, all while feeling effortless. It’s folk, it’s bluesy Americana, it’s got a tinge of gospel—it’s basically what happens when someone with actual musical chops decides to make an anthem for the weary but hopeful.
And let’s give credit where it’s due: Brown’s got range. Not just vocally (though, wow), but emotionally. She doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, but she also doesn’t leave you hanging in despair. She builds you up, dusts you off, and sends you back into the world with a song in your head and, if you’re lucky, a little extra hope in your heart.
With In Art & Soil the Same set to drop soon, “Blessing” is a more-than-promising start. It’s the kind of track that doesn’t just make you want to listen—it makes you want to join in. And honestly? That’s exactly what we need right now.
Garth Thomas