The greatest of artists are usually the ones who speak from their soul: rather than the mouths of others, from observations of the superficial aspects of life, or, from the angle of what is believed to be popular or appealing. Anya Marina portrayed this quality in her upcoming EP, Spirit School, an accumulation of dissident tracks that lay off the beaten path of what she intended to fit into her upcoming full-length album. Despite their bohemian nature, these songs deserved their own debut considering Anya’s intent to just…write. 
The idea for Spirit School, is based off of the concept of being in an environment where you can embrace and expand your soul in a ready and willing nature. This idea seemed fitting for Anya because, over the course of touring, she realized that life on the road, as a musician, can in fact be an educational facet for the mind and spirit to intertwine amongst themselves. These songs represent this ideal in clarity due to Anya’s perseverance in writing her own songs and feeling confident in the lyricism these tracks would embody.
Spirit School is a multifarious culmination of electro-pop gems. The beat on each track is not merely repeated, but tweaked and amped throughout the track. Her seductive lyricism compliments many of the songs well, transporting you to a low-key nightclub with a subtle cocktail in your hand, but your body’s energy exhibiting the “she needs to move” complex. The beat builds tension within itself, despite its speed or rhythm. And right when you think she is just laying a beat, she throws in some acoustic guitar, a little percussion, and some slight keyboard…and we’re back to square one indie/alternative pop.
Her voice is reminiscent of a more sophisticated Tegan & Sara (with a little less whine, and one less vocalist), especially in the title track Spirit School. But, her vocals also possess a more breathy and intimate sound than the aforementioned comparison.
The closing track is a remix of Satellite Heart, a track that was recorded for the Twilight: New Moon Saga. This beat differs slightly from the other melodies displayed in the album, featuring more of a vibe that you might acquire from listening to The Postal Service. Several indie artists aided Anya in the recording of this album, including: Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols, Michael Lerner of Telekinesis and Sam Fogarino of Interpol who contributed the remix of Satellite Heart featured at the end of the album.
Spirit School will become available to the public on November 15.
