Steffany Beck is new to me, but wow! This lady, originally from Portland, Oregon, is now resident in Christchurch, EnZed. A style that I would describe as avant-garde Country, she really appeals to my mellow yet simmering side.

Foot Down is a song about when you realise it’s time to draw a line under where you can be pushed, and to know your own worth. Great message, and with a mild yet unpredictable rattlesnake of a melody, this song was crafted intelligently. Recorded by Ben Edwards at Lyttelton’s Sitting Room Studios, I can’t talk much about the performers of the instruments as I’m not privy to that, but there’s a great, warm bottom end and some full, delicately balanced lead and rhythm guitars that are toned just on the outer edge of acceptability within the Country music genre. This is edgy, and I like!

There’s a very clear Indie rock vibe to this song. It can cross genres. Steffany‘s vocal also lends itself to that ability, as she’s got a great range and a timbre that can sit well in Indie, Country, Rock and even Grunge a la Alanis herself. I’m looking forward to seeing how Steffany takes advantage of this with future releases. Her visual look is definitely in the vein of highly individual – meant in a 100% positive way.

The video for this single is wonderful. The only word for it. It’s got some great visual symbolism and a latter-day, oddly dystopian start where Steffany wakes up in a windswept, hilly and remote place, and is looking through guitar case after guitar case. Following a mysterious woman with a guitar on her back we are taken along a lesson in shots hitting the correct timing to make this a bewitching and compelling little tale. Very good video accompanying the track. Perfect mood captured.

Steffany has collaborated with Bic Runga, Jason Kerrison, and is taking to the road in November and December around the central South Island including Christchurch’s Xmas in the Park. Go check her out.

Steffany has Cherokee and Apache blood. Some of the vocal in Foot Down is aimed to celebrate this heritage, and I hear it. It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, giving me goosebumps as she’s caught an intangible essence of something never forgotten but melancholy and deserving of a voice.

Get online and check out Steffany Beck if you like the sound of this review, and have a listen to this single. Support this artist. For adherents to the several genres she’s in the sweet spot for, you will thank me.