Anya Baghina, who you may know as a member of the Detroit-based act, Soviet Girls, has called many different places home – Moscow, New Jersey, nearby Ithaca, Detroit, Brooklyn, and then Russia again. Longtime collaborator Jonathan Franco has been accompanying Baghina live and in the studio since their Brooklyn days (and fellow SG bandmate Devin Poisson recorded her first three singles to cassette). Despite being halfway across the world, somehow, someway, Baghina has managed to stay in touch with her OG Detroit crew. She’s now located in Kazakhstan, and since her collaborators are so far away, we couldn’t help but be drawn to Anya’s story.
Her latest offering, a self-titled album packed full of eleven jangly, indie-pop songs that highlight Baghina’s skill as a songwriter. It’s clear Baghina has put a lot of herself into these songs, so a title of Anya Baghina feels fitting to say the least.
Album opener “Wish For Nothing” is a slow burner, putting the spotlight on Anya’s ultra-sincere vocal delivery. Anya’s got a heart-on-your-sleeve vibe to her vocal delivery – there’s no American Idol™ wailing here or showy, breathy vocal runs. Instead, Anya’s communicating her feelings plainly in a sort of every-woman vocal styling. Same goes for follow-up track “Not That Important,” where the same ambiance sighs and moans with a tremolo key accompaniment beneath a simply strummed guitar. This songwriting is found all the way through the end of the LP, “How Do You Do It?,” where Baghina takes a more minor approach. This sort of moodiness suits her vibe perfectly and adds an apt charm to Anya Baghina.
Album highlight “For Now” is one of my favorite moments on the LP. Tambourines and gently played drums give this one an easy going start, but at the 1:20 mark, Baghina introduces a Casio drumbeat that gives this one an ever-so tasteful plus-up. Lyrics like, “Maybe I just don’t get it, maybe I’m second-guessing, maybe you know what’s best for, for the way that you live” hit hard, despite their soothing delivery. There’s palpable emotion found in these little stanzas, and they give Anya Baghina a gravitas despite the airy and lighthearted first impression you may have.
In case you missed it, we’ve recently written about song five on Anya Baghina, “It’s Clear To Me.” You can read our full review here, but it’s worth revisiting because we enjoyed the song so much. Anya’s alt-folk-dream-pop roots are on full display here with a fun little smattering of midwestern emo energy. Light tinges of chorus and splashes of fuzzed-out guitars separate this one from the pack, even though it still feels like an integral part of her overall sound.
There’s lot’s more to dig into on Anya Baghina, which thankfully, is out now. You can find it on Bandcamp (below), Spotify, and Apple Music. Find lots of other ways to support her through her Linktree as well.