7/10

In the wake of her Australian Music Prize-nominated debut LP 'Can’t Make You Love Me' in 2019, progressive singer-songwriter Gena Rose Bruce found herself in a deep, personal turmoil. Grieving from the loss of her partner's mother and the extremely strict lockdown measures Australia imposed during the pandemic left her in a vast sea of depression and anxiety, finding it difficult to pull herself out of this isolated state. But after making a connection with iconic songwriter Bill Callahan during that time, she finally began to feel like her old self again and began work on her sophomore studio album 'Deep Is The Way', a record that looks to reflect those difficult times.

While there have already been countless examples of how the pandemic affected musicians and artists at its peak, Gena Rose Bruce's experience feels rather unique in how she wrestled her way through it. Bill Callahan's praise and focus towards their common goal gave 'Deep Is The Way' an extremely warm and intimate feel that it probably wouldn't have had otherwise. Throughout this new collection, she feels confident and refined in her work as she moves effortlessly from one track to the next, creating moments of joy and euphoria where it feels right.

Her debut effort may have springboarded her into the limelight, but 'Deep Is The Way' shows that her place amongst Australia's best remains completely justified. While it may have been birthed during one of the most turbulent times in her life, she has emerged out of it renewed and driven in her pursuit of fresh and buoyant aesthetics, something that still feels quintessentially her.