Ana Paz – surrender (2025)
Ana Paz’s latest EP surrender is a breathtaking journey through grief’s intricate emotional terrain, delivered with a rare combination of vulnerability, artistry, and sonic sophistication. This three-track collection showcases Paz’s evolution as an indie artist who fearlessly blends genres, indie pop, ambient, chamber pop, and downtempo, into a cohesive and immersive experience that resonates deeply with listeners.
From the very first track, ‘what’s left to say’, Ana Paz confronts grief’s raw anger with a cathartic energy, articulated through hypnotic synth loops and punchy, intricate drum patterns. Her voice, both delicate and powerful, cuts through the soundscape, expressing frustration and unmet expectations with an authenticity that feels personal yet universal. The song’s production, enriched by the influences of Radiohead’s experimental textures and Moses Sumney’s atmospheric layering, sets the tone for the EP’s emotional arc.
The middle track, ‘still here’, offers a gentler, more contemplative mood. It’s a moment of reckoning, where Paz acknowledges what remains after loss and makes deliberate choices about what to carry forward. The blend of ethereal harmonies and lush instrumentation creates a warm, intimate space, inviting listeners to sit with their reflections. The collaboration with producers from Miami, Puerto Rico, and New York City is evident here, as diverse influences coalesce into a sound both spacious and grounded.
Closing the EP is ‘where time stops’, a poignant homage to cherished memories and the peace found in honouring the past. This track’s chamber pop elements and downtempo rhythms evoke a cinematic quality, wrapping the listener in a reflective embrace. Paz’s dreamy vocals feel like a gentle guide through remembrance and acceptance, perfectly complemented by Martina Hoyos’s evocative visual design that captures surrender’s thematic triptych of release, reconciliation, and remembrance.
What makes surrender truly special is its emotional intelligence. Ana Paz doesn’t shy away from the complexity of grief; instead, she invites us to witness it through her art. The EP is not just music but a narrative, a passage through pain toward healing, rendered with both tenderness and strength. With this release, Ana Paz firmly establishes herself as a distinctive voice in the indie landscape, blending genre fluidity with heartfelt storytelling.
“These songs held me through different phases as I processed grief in various forms, from losing my grandmother to grieving unlived versions of myself. The project became a narrative arc, a way of understanding and transforming pain” – Ana Paz on surrender
surrender, is an intimate, immersive experience that rewards repeat listens, revealing new layers each time. For anyone who has experienced loss or sought music that transcends typical genre boundaries to express raw human emotion, Ana Paz’s surrender offers a beautiful, transformative journey.
