Full Review

Pieternel, Ugly Beast Review

Pieternel is an Amsterdam-based songstress that creates Americana music mixed with classic country, modern pop, and folk elements. Pieternel released her debut EP All Night Cafe in 2018, followed by her debut full-length album Roosevelt Island. Pieternel created and released Roosevelt Island independently on her own label and presented it in a sold-out Bitterzoet. She recorded the album in Nashville, Tennessee, with Grammy award winner producers Femke Weidema and Gouden Kalf winner Helge Slikker. The album caught the attention of multiple international playlists and Dutch radio stations. Pieternel supported the album with a tour with her band and as a solo act as a part of the program “Nashville comes to Holland.” She has opened for artists such as Brandy Clark, Levi Hummon, Angeleena Presley, and Helge and played shows in the Netherlands and the USA. Pieternel is now releasing her latest single called “Ugly Beast.”

Bottom Line: “Ugly Beast” is filled with Pieternel’s warm, powerful voice as she shares the stories of her inner world and paints an intimate picture of emotions with her lyrics. “Ugly Beast” is the second single from her upcoming EP to be released in 2021. Pieternel co-wrote the song with Femke Weidema and Jon Reynolds during a songwriting trip to Nashville, Tennessee. “Ugly Beast” has lyrics that deal with Pieternel’s struggle with burn-out – how she could no longer fight the stresses of life and always felt in search of peace. Preventing this was a voice that kept telling her that she was worthless and would never find love. The song’s hope was inspired after Pieternel read a book that said sometimes facing your demons is the only way to win the battle. “Ugly Beast” builds through opening moments to Pieternel’s vocals surrounded by ample reverb and delay. The various acoustic instruments layer in as the orchestration grows. Pieternel’s vocal range gives each section a precise definition, and her harmonic and melodic interactions go beyond the normal, which adds interest and a sense of development. Pieternel brings her own haunting touch and an ethereal vocal delivery to a fragile-feeling melody and storyline that will genuinely grip the listener. “Ugly Beast” strikes a beautiful balance between unexpected and familiar; of love and life’s challenges, and in these unusual days, music like Pieternel’s is just what is needed. That’s the short of it!