Let’s be honest, there are many indie artists and bands who deliver some of the finest pieces of music this genre ever witnessed, but over so many decades in its existence, the scene has become oversaturated with the same old, repetitious, predictable, bland songs that possess a certain quality, but somehow resemble something you’ve heard before. It’s due to the fact that many artists and bands often mimic the greats by delivering something we all heard and seen before. Thankfully, there are music outlets like Queen Anne whose music always shines with fresh, unique, innovative, unpredictable moves. This American indie-pop duo, consisting of singer-songwriter Katie Silverman and writer/producer Sandy Chila, always has something new to offer, and with each new release, they surprise with even more brilliant ideas and outstanding sonic maneuvers, enclosed in each segment of their songs. With “Watch Me Win It,” Queen Anna unquestionably breaks all the rules and shapeshifts the boundaries of modern indie pop sound. Serving as a first standalone single this year, this song carries many innovations in songwriting, composing, arranging, and production, showcasing a natural progression of an already incredible duo. Lyrically, “Watch Me Win It” is about winning a game of Catan. Katie Silverman got the inspiration for the lyrics after she had three victory points in her hand during a game, and nobody had the slightest clue. Other players counted her out because she only had a couple of settlements, but then she built a city and turned over her development cards. Sonically, perhaps this song dominantly shines with an indie pop sound, as the duo incorporated all the fundamental elements that define this genre, but do not be surprised if you stumble upon some of the finest properties borrowed from alt-country, folk rock, contemporary pop, and Americana. These additional elements serve as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details that unquestionably uplift this song to an entirely new level while Queen Anna remains loyal to the primary sonic direction. Therefore, these experimentations with various styles resulted in a catchy, memorable, engaging composition that will not only appeal to longtime indie pop fans but also to anyone who appreciates cleverly assembled and flawlessly performed music.
As soon as you press play, you’ll notice that Queen Anne poured heart and soul into this fine piece of sonic artistry. “Watch Me Win It” arrives with a perfect song structure, garnered with many profoundly detailed segments, brilliant ideas, and outstanding instrumentations. Each vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuver has its place and purpose in this sonic equation, making “Watch Me Win It” such a pleasant listening experience worth repeating over and over again. The interplay between guitars shapes a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. On one side, you’ll hear those catchy, memorable, engaging chord progressions delivered on acoustic guitar, acting as a foundation, while the other side shines with beautiful themes, melodies, harmonies, and other sonic maneuvers delivered on a tastefully distorted electric guitar. This combination of acoustic and electric layers gives this song more depth and complexity. Also, you’ll notice how some synth leads and pads along the way, spicing things up and elevating everything to another level. It’s nearly mindblowing how all these layers articulate together without overwhelming each other, proving that Queen Anne thought about everything while writing and composing this track. This composition wouldn’t sound this good without a soulful, sincere, confident, emotional, powerful vocal performance. You’ll hear how Katie Silverman’s voice shines in the limelight, commanding attention and guiding you through each segment of the song. Her marvelous voice seamlessly balances low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse, emphasizing everything Queen Anne intended to achieve with this track. Besides decorating every segment and orchestration, her voice also contributes more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. Also, there are additional vocal layers, back vocals, and sing-alongs, contributing more depth and anthemic vibes to this fine piece of sonic artistry. Beneath those lush guitar and synth works, you’ll notice equally impressive, vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines rumbling around and contributing more heaviness, clarity, and depth while acting as a binding element between the mentioned orchestrations and rhythmic patterns. These low ends are rich, deep, dense, and heavy, providing more groove and depth to the song without overwhelming other instruments. The tastefully arranged, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated, energetic beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics keep everything in line while dictating groove and pace. You’ll hear how each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation over the hi-hat, and splash over cymbals cuts through the ambiance, contributing more detail and dynamics to the song. Each instrument plays a significant role in this sonic equation, making “Watch Me Win It” even more appealing to the ears.
With a new single, Queen Anna proves that indie pop, when done right, can still sound fresh, unique, and exciting, just like the first time you’ve heard it. Katie Silverman and Sandy Chila are an amazing songwriting/producing duo whose writing, composing, arranging, and producing abilities go beyond comprehension so many times throughout the entire track. “Watch Me Win It” is a catchy, memorable, fascinating indie pop composition that not only carries all the finest qualities of the genre but also breaks the rules and shapeshifts the boundaries of it. It’s one of those songs that will immediately end up on your playlist. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out!
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