Penny Flows turns trauma into six personal songs on her debut EP “Under Water”
I love how music can be used to tell tough stories, and how it can help us feel better. It works both ways: the artist gets to tell their own story, and listeners can recognize themselves in it.
That’s exactly what Penny Flows does on her debut EP “Under Water”. More than ten years ago, she was sexually assaulted while she was sedated and unable to give consent. Years later, she was trapped underwater during a surf trip in Costa Rica and was convinced she was going to die. For years she held parts of her story back, afraid of being seen as a victim. Now she’s ready to tell it openly, and she has turned it into six personal songs about trauma, loss, self-discovery and the hope of finding the light again.
The EP consists of six extremely beautiful songs. The music is strong and beautiful on its own, but it gets even more powerful from what I call the “Tears in Heaven” effect. “Tears in Heaven” is an incredibly beautiful song, but it becomes stronger and more moving when you know the story behind it. “Under Water” by Penny Flows gives me that same feeling.
When an EP like this comes from such a personal story, I’d recommend setting aside a few minutes to sit down and listen. Take the time to really understand the lyrics.
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