You’re Still Here is nothing less than a tour de force of songwriting. Sarah Rose Janko’s rich storytelling explores the corners of the world that most would rather not. Her voice has an earthy texture that makes all of these tales feel immediate and relatable — you might not have dated a guy who’s had almost every imaginable tragedy occur to him, but you’ll feel like you did. You might not be friends with a peep show performer — but you are now, thanks to Janko’s deeply felt character studies.
These songs remind me of Anna Tivel — particularly the lilting “Scales From My Eyes.” The song has a delicate, mystical quality: Janko’s voice feels as if it is gently rolling out of the story, like mist off the mountains. But the album deals with material concerns, too: “The Difference” tackles the legacies of institutional racism, and the generational indifference that perpetuates it. The song is gentle in tone, but forceful in impact — it’s difficult to argue with well-executed metaphors. “Change in Tide” serves as the album’s thesis statement: this life is for exploring, and all the highs and lows that come with it.
At the end of the day, You’re Still Here explores what it means to persist. In spite of everything, what drives us to carry onwards? For Dawn Riding, the beauty of the struggle is the means that justifies the end.