Swedish singer and songwriter Anna Leone dropped her debut EP Wandered Away in 2018, a beautiful record that was plugged by the likes of BBC Music and Spotify, and has gone on to clock up over eighteen million streams online. That EP included her breakthrough track My Soul I, which took her music to the next level. Now the Stockholm-born artist has returned with her new single Once, produced by Paul Butler.

Writing on her official Facebook page about the song, Leone said: “This song has always felt strangely hopeful to me, even though it’s not that reflected in the lyrics. Writing it helped me accept that I can mourn what was, while also embracing what is and what’s to come. It’s a bittersweet feeling but it ultimately gives me hope!”

Once is an immediately delicate track, sparkling with the fragility and tenderness that has been characteristic of much of Leone’s work to date. Built around a simple acoustic guitar, Leone sings: “Never gave you any reasons / I always built another wall / And here I am again, I'm making all the same mistakes / And it's all my fault”. The song is also accompanied by a beautifully atmospheric video directed by Savannah Setten, which sees Leone exploring some stunning landscapes.

A self-confessed introvert with a passion for sci-fi and video games, Leone only began playing the guitar in her teens. Her original goal was simply to be able to cover songs by artists she loved, such as Bon Iver, but she soon found her talent and began penning soulful yet simple acoustic tracks that carry a real emotional honesty.

In a separate Facebook post, Leone revealed the difficulties she’s faced during the recent lockdown. “Hey everyone. Thanks for the encouragement. I had a bit of a breakdown amidst everything going on these past months BUT now it feels like I’ve started a new chapter and it’s nice to be back releasing songs again! Thanks for sticking with me.”

Watch the official video for Once here.

Find out more about Anna Leone on her official website.

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.