Soft light in the dark: Lana Crow returns with “What Brings You Back”

"What Brings You Back", Lana Crow takes the beautiful act of expressing herself through music to new heights.

Lana Crow is a British indie pop and pop rock singer-songwriter. She articulates emotional honesty with regard to the creation of cinematic soundscapes that are ethereal in nature, yet have an atmospheric and emotional feel to them. By the use of ethereal vocals combined with rock-pop production, her songs deal with the themes of vulnerability and resilience, and ultimately growing into who you want to be. Her first album, "I Will," features a very personal perspective and is a "sonic diary" of her growth and journey to become free from that which weighs her down. Her music has been influenced by a mixture of alternative rock, soft rock, pop, and film or theater type of music (cinematic).

The song “What Brings You Back” is by far one of the most personal and impactful songs for Lana Crow as an artist up to this point in her career.

The bright acoustic guitars, consistent rhythmical drum beat, and thick acoustic soundscapes create a welcoming, relaxing feel through this arrangement. The overall sound of the arrangement can give you a sense of Lana speaking to you in a soft voice. Crow uses metaphorical language regarding her feelings about God's presence in the lyrics of the songs. Once the chorus starts, there is no push or drive in the way in which the music goes forward; it all results from repetition and warmth, providing a natural and smooth lift to it. The message of lyrics like “the dark is simply the absence of your light” is clear, but becomes even more meaningful as the arrangement develops. This song feels like a film score yet still speaks on a personal level to those who are struggling with either fear, tiredness or faith.

We got the chance to interview Lana Crow, and this is how it went:

1. “What Brings You Back” imagines God as an intimate, ever-present voice. Your music often balances doubt and belief. How do you approach writing about faith without offering certainty or answers?

   
   

   I guess because there can be no certainty. If you feel completely certain about something—especially something as intangible as faith—then you're most likely indoctrinated and imprisoned by your own limiting convictions. I believe we as humans thrive on observing and learning, and this journey never ends.

   
   

2. The song feels like a private conversation rather than a performance. How did you create that sense of intimacy in both the lyrics and production?

   
   

   The production is intentionally minimalistic to keep the focus on the dialogue. The sense of a private conversation comes through in the vocal delivery and the lyrical structure: the first verse captures someone lost in their own thoughts, while the second verse and choruses are God responding to those thoughts. 

   When I recorded the vocals, I was very sick. I could feel myself tensing up inside before even hitting the first note because I knew it was going to hurt. I had to mentally push past that fear to keep going. As a result, the verses don’t sound “perfect” in a traditional sense, but I chose to keep them rather than re-sing because that rawness might actually convey the feeling of fighting fear.

   
   

3. Your music often balances doubt and belief. How do you approach writing about faith without offering certainty or answers?

   
   

   Like I mentioned earlier, we as humans are too limited to claim we fully know what lies beyond what we can see. Even the things we do perceive, we view from very different angles and perspectives. In my songwriting, I try to honor that by not pretending to have all the answers—instead, the songs aim to spark self-exploration through questions rather than certainty. I believe we should all be asking more questions; that's where real discovery happens.

   
   

4. How does “What Brings You Back” connect emotionally and thematically with earlier songs like “I Do” and “You Can Run”?

   
   

   Visually and sonically, I wanted to mirror the production style of "I Do" to create a sense of continuity. However, thematically, this song is the natural successor to "You Can Run." I see "You Can Run" as those first tentative steps toward self-exploration and seeing a bigger picture. While "You Can Run" is about the realization, this new release is about the return to center and the deeper conversation that follows.

   
   

5. The track builds slowly, allowing space and silence to carry emotion. How intentional is restraint in your musical process?

   
   

   I do not overthink it really. My song-writing process is quite spontaneous.

   
   

6. What do you hope listeners feel or reflect on when they sit with this song in their own quiet moments?

   
   

   I hope listeners come to understand how precious they are, and that their thoughts and feelings really do matter—they shape their lives and the world far more than most realize. My own path to this realization was painfully long, and I'd love for others to arrive there sooner. Growing up in a tough environment, I lived with a victim's mindset for years. Guess what? It kept me stuck there until someone pointed out that my misfortunes were all of my own making. Taking full responsibility for what happened to me transformed my quality of life immensely. Our environment reflects us—it's that simple. 

   As children, we have little control, but as adults, the choice is ours, and it's never too late. I hope the song gently nudges people toward the right choice for them—through honest self-questioning. Because everyone's answer to “What gives you joy?” is unique.

   
   

7. Do you see this release as a turning point in how openly you explore spirituality and inner life in your music moving forward

   
   

   I wouldn't call it a permanent turning point, but rather an expansion of my boundaries. You could say I’ve been building up to this kind of song for a while, but it doesn't mean every future release will be as spiritually heavy. I value the balance and diversity in my music; I still love creating lighter, more rhythmic tracks. For me, it’s about having the freedom to move between those deep, inner conversations and the moments that are just about enjoying the sound.

   
   

8. Who do you hope finds this song at the right moment?

   
   

   Those who are struggling—those who feel they're up against the world. A few years ago, I learned something “crazy” after watching my own life unfold: You don't need to fight to live the way you want to; you just have to learn to LOVE TO LIVE. It's a hard shift for some. Some people get drowned by their own negative thoughts, and all they need is a little nudge toward understanding that their thoughts create their reality. But others are facing real-life struggles—like what's happening in Iran right now. I actually wanted to run YouTube ads so the song could reach people there, but of course it couldn't happen because they're cut off from the world. It breaks my heart to see that, despite the immense death toll in such a short time and the level of torture these people are enduring, there's so little public outcry. It's hard to digest, but I try to remind myself that everyone has their own path.