Canadian songwriter Emily Steinwall returns after five years with the album but, there’s beauty in the fall from Grace. On her debut (Welcome to the Garden) she had impressed with her saxophone and powerful voice. Here, she tries something darker, but the result is uneven.
Country: Canada
Genre: Art Rock / Progressive Pop / Indie Rock (Clean Vocals)
For fans of: Bent Knee, Laufey, Radiohead, My Brightest Diamond
Release date: August 7, 2026
Label: Not available
Steinwall herself wrote that Grace is the flip side of the previous record’s “cosmic enthusiasm”, drawn from the chaos of events and her personal struggles. The first two tracks (“Soft Animal”, “Human Anymore”) show a darker energy: she abandons the saxophone and picks up the guitar, rocking hard. “Soft Animal” recalls a less nervous Bent Knee, while “Human Anymore” leans on garage rock with angry vocals.
The remaining seven tracks, though, lose that intensity. Most of the ballads move slowly and calmly, far from the dark tone of the first minutes. “Something” runs nearly seven minutes with acoustic guitar and a mournful atmosphere, while “Rock Me, Baby” feels like a lullaby. Steinwall brings out the saxophone on only one track (“Slow Burn”), showing how underused her talent remains.
Even so, the ballads are beautiful when heard individually. Steinwall’s voice remains excellent, from quiet tones to powerful shouts, with an old-fashioned quality that recalls Laufey. The production is warm, with clean drums and guitars drenched in reverb. A few moments stand out, such as the crescendos in “No One Wins a War” and “There Is a Light”, while “Free Spirit” (eight minutes) is the best, with a dynamic build that recalls her debut.
In the end, Grace feels like a fall from the heights of her first record. It starts dark and angry, but quickly leans into airy ballads. Even so, Steinwall has the talent to craft moments of real beauty, with lovely melodies and lyrics about a wounded heart that wants to love again. Perhaps in the future she will spread her wings again — for now, she moves slowly.
Recommended tracks: Soft Animal, Human Anymore, Free Spirit
Final score: 6.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Official Site | Instagram
Emily Steinwall:
– Emily Steinwall (vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone, harp)
With guests:
– Joseph Martel (guitar)
– Jeremiah Pick (guitar)
– Michael Eckert (pedal steel)
– Bjorn Kriel (organ)
– Jackson Steinwall (bass)
– Andrew McCarthy (drums)
– Lala Noel (vocals)
– Daisy Progosh (vocals)
– Dorothy Progosh (vocals)
– Kirk Macdonald (saxophone)
