“When a tree falls in the forest, doesn’t it always make a noise?” Annika BennettLos Angeles-based singer-songwriter writes in her new single “A Tree Falls.”

Bennett’s music often explores the complexities of emotional paralysis and infatuation, driven by a deep-seated fear of inadequacy, shifting relationship dynamics, and the unsettling possibility that her emotions may go unheard even when expressed. These themes are vividly present in her 2022 EP. SPACE (DEMOS)with songs like “Say it to your face” and “So much more than me”.

While “A Tree Falls” revisits familiar themes, it marks a transition – a departure from the tangled frustrations of unspoken love and adolescent turmoil. Bennett uses George Berkeley’s famous philosophical theory as a framework: If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? Can something real but unperceived exist; or can something real but inaudible be heard? In other words, if no one is perceiving a person’s experience, is it really happening?

Bennett confirms this: “There are places in the sea where no one has ever been. There are species in the jungle that hide from scientists. If they die out undetected, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”

Between muted acoustic guitar playing and tearful harmonies, paired with her sonically pleasing, stripped-down vocals, it’s clear that Bennett has found a new confidence and emotional maturity in her writing. Not only does she find peace in self-reliance, she also accepts her love as independent of the subject’s recognition or reciprocation: “And I’ll still love you, even if you never know it.”

Bennett’s clear perspective and metaphorical precision give her music a rare authenticity. Her uninhibited, diary-like lyricism creates an intimate and deeply real connection with her listeners, combining nuanced complexity with raw relatability and revealing her artistic genius.

Although the credits for A Tree Falls include the legendary John Mayer, Bennett has yet to receive mainstream recognition. Yet, just as a falling tree still makes a sound in an uninhabited forest, Bennett’s work resonates deeply, proving that his artistic value and importance endure even without widespread recognition.

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