Lost At Sea is a gentle folky number with the kind of thoughtful production I can’t resist. Guitar creates a textured feeling, buoyant bass gives the whole melody a sense of nautical movement, and atop it all a vocal floats atop the surface, sun-kissed and breathless. It is a kind of musical coherence that resonates for me, with Christen Morrell’s metaphor transcending both lyrics and melody to infuse even the production of her music.
Hailing from Annapolis, Maryland, Christen Morrell is a singer-songwriter and producer with a passion for making music out of electronic elements, smart lyrics, and emotional authenticity. Having released her eponymously titled debut EP in 2018, Morrell studied part-time at Boston, MA’s Berkeley College of Music, whilst living in Valencia, in Spain.
Having worked with other musicians, Morrell became more interested in the technical elements of music making, teaching herself production, so she could control her overall sound. Over time, Christen has established a network of female music producers with whom she can collaborate — something that was borne out of her membership of She Knows Tech, an international women-in-music-production programme and network. Morrell was initially frustrated by how often she found she was the only woman in the studio. Her experience of finding female collaborative partners through She Knows Tech enabled her to build confidence, refine her craft and grow her passion for electronic music performance and production.
Following on from her recent EP, To the Water!, Christen’s new single Lost At Sea is centred on the true story of two sailors getting caught in a storm together, out at sea on a first date. The song is a deliberate metaphor for the experience of falling in love, where it can sometimes feel like you and your loved one are the only people in the world.