June 6, 2025 (Oakland, California):
My Inner Rest from Briana Marela is out now digitally and on limited edition CD/cassette.
With her emotional vocal performance as the focal point of these electroacoustic expressions, Marela carves out a minimal yet lush space for swirling and skittering synths, vocal sampling, and live processing to caress and accompany her journey of reconnecting with her creative spirit.
The title My Inner Rest is borrowed from an encounter with the work of outsider visual artist Madge Gill on display at the Collection de l'Art Brut in Lausanne, Switzerland. Gill is believed to have been creatively guided by a spirit she called "Myrninerest" to complete many mediumistic works.
At the time, Marela was reaching a creative transition point. She was losing touch with her own creative spirit, leaving her disconnected from their identity as an artist and their own work. Marela wished to return to a mindset of being a vessel for creative spirit to flow through.
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Being able to struggle through a trying time and reconnect with her creative spirit again was a deeply healing and meditative undertaking. It is Marela’s hope that by letting others bear witness to her process, she can inspire other creative spirits to return to their lost vessels, to help repair the soul during times of dissonance.
All songs composed and performed live by Briana Marela Lizárraga
except “Wash Away”, co-composed and performed live with Joel Skavdahl.
Brendan Glasson plays synth, organ, and rhodes as overdubs on the album.
Recorded by Brendan Glasson at Littlefield Concert Hall at Mills College in Oakland, CA.
Additional vocals, vibraphone, hardware fx, and reamping recorded at The Unknown by Nicholas Wilbur. Brendan Glasson’s overdubs recorded at his studio in Berkeley, CA.
Mixed by Nicholas Wilbur and Briana Marela at The Unknown in Anacortes, WA
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
Album artwork by Asenath Lizárraga
Design and Layout by Francie Chang
Photo of Briana by Nathan Kosta
AKP038