Track of the Day: Roan Grevel – Anna (2026)
Should you take a liking to Nirvana, Placebo and The Smashing Pumpkins, the chances are you’ll quite enjoy the work of Roan Grevel. While the French singer-songwriter only began streaming music this year, his musical journey began about two decades ago – and this debut, ‘Anna’, is that journey coming “full circle”. As with anyone reading this review, Grevel is new to our ears, so I can’t enter this with any expectations. Join us as we hit the play button and begin our journey with ‘Anna’.
Immediately dragging me back to the 1990s/2000s rock scene, ‘Anna’ breathes life into the sounds of Three Days Grace and Three Doors Down. Hard-hitting and heavy, the bass, guitar, and drums combination has the quintessential charm of alternative rock (with a smidge of hard rock running through), made for fans of angsty, aggressive, emotional music. Interestingly, while the arrangement is harmonic and rhythmic, with a flowing melodic flair, every instrument brings a singular point to the full single. The drums bang with authority, while the bold bass plucks at your heart, and the soaring guitar swerves in tumultuous but mellifluous waves.
‘Anna’ is a rollercoaster ride of rock, but the lyricism and theme are what enhance the feeling of emotional angst. Executed with Roan Grevel’s rich, rugged and soulful vocals, ‘Anna’ is an intimate story of tragedy, empowerment, vulnerability and strength. Grevel explains:
“Conceptually, the song is the emotional biography of a close friend from my past. It tells the story of a disillusioned woman, betrayed by life and emotionally exhausted. Deep down, she longs to fight back, but the weight is simply too heavy. ‘Anna’ captures that exact threshold between despair and the internal will to overcome.”
Tugging on my heartstrings, ‘Anna’ is a tender tune, washing from painful instrumentals to motivating lyrics – all in an infectious melody. As a debut single, ‘Anna’ has set an expectation of good rock music for Grevel. My only fear is that this is his peak and the sophomore won’t meet the bar. Here’s hoping it does.
Find out more about Roan Grevel on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more alternative-rock music on The Other Side Reviews Alternative Rock playlist:
