93. Single Review of Trust Issues by The Wanderer Edit
Originally Published on February 21st, 2025
About the Artist
I’m going to be telling on myself a little bit here, but, in order to be a critic, I think writers have to be comprised of asshole. Some more than others, admittedly, but it has to be there. People who criticize things they’re not a part of, we’re not involved in, because they have a baseline knowledge of a subject are a little bit pretentious.
Or a lot bit.
That is one of the reasons I’ve chosen to attempt to rewrite this narrative. Ironically, it’s the most contradictory way to go about this. “I dont like the way music critics go about doing their jobs these days. I think I can do better.” It’s funny when I play it back.
It is how things get changed though. For what it’s worth, I don’t do any of this for me. I feel compelled to be more of an advocate than a critic. Any criticisms I offer come from a constructive place. I recognize, as an independent artist, we have so many stories among us, collectively. I simply want to get as many of those stories out into the world as possible. I accept that it might be a little pretentious, but I think I can change the narrative.
Sometimes, we can’t help but want to change the narrative of a story. Arizona native, Seattle Washington-based alt pop artist The Wanderer Edit is an artist who knows what it is like to be compelled to change the narrative.
The Wanderer Edit is an artist who was on a completely different path a few years ago. However, after graduating from college, she became disabled from an unexplained phenomenon that has yet to be diagnosed. Undergoing treatments, physical therapy, and learning to cope with chronic pain, she rediscovered her passion for music. With a new motivating factor behind her, she has been inspired to change the narrative on the public perception of disability. Instead of simply viewing disability naively as “feel good stories” of inspiration or overcoming adversity, she has undertaken the task of educating her listeners on what it really means to be disabled.
The Wanderer Edit is 100% self-produced. She released her debut album, Into a Fairytale, in 2021. This 14 song, 53 minute LP featured two released singles; The Expert and Rose Gold Lies.
In 2022, she followed her debut with the release of 4 singles, spanning into 2023. This included the 5 minute single Deserve to be Loved, which released on April 7th of 2023.
In 2024, she would release her first multi-track project in 3 years. No More Hiding, a 6 song, 25 minute EP was released on November 8th, 2024. Featuring a full studio version of I Should Have Never Tried, a song that was previously released as an acoustic single, No More Hiding expands on The Wanderer Edit’s growth as a musician.
Most recently, The Wanderer Edit has released the single, Knocking on my Door, which released December 16th, 2024.
About the Song
Trust Issues is the closing track on The Wanderer Edit’s 2024 EP, No More Hiding. At just over 6 minutes, it was released on November 8th, 2024. No More Hiding was recorded and produced at 2926725 Records DK.
About the Music
Trust Issues is a synth-heavy fluid track that mostly relies on ambient soundscapes supporting a series of layered vocal parts performed by The Wanderer Edit. There are multiple effects mixed into the instrumental and vocal performances; reverb, echo, and filters provide a plethora of different sounds to boost the intensity of the song.
I get a hint of a couple of different artists when listening to Trust Issues. First, the layered vocal performances give off similar vibes to that of legendary recording artist Imogen Heap. I will say, I hear similarities in Heap’s solo work as well as the band she is one half of, Frou Frou. I also hear similarities to some of the older works of Delerium; particularly their work on their 2000 album Poem.
The music from the entire EP has this sort of fantastical air to it. Particularly Trust Issues though. Here is my favorite thing about this entire body of work. I can really hear a big development in the production value of The Wanderer Edit’s music from Into a Fairytale to No More Hiding. Specifically, the vocals. She is the same singer but a little bit more rehearsed, having been releasing music for 3 years now. And the production has opened the tone into this brighter sound quality that is drastically more fitting to the style of music. There isn’t anything bad with the production of Into a Fairytale. It’s just in comparing the two, this new production technique is very attractive.
About the Lyrics
Lyrically, I expected most of The Wanderer Edit’s music to be captivating and profound for two reasons. One, as I first discussed, she has an agenda of rewriting the narrative of disability. That in itself means we should expect to hear something said in a different light. A new perspective.
The second reason is she graduated from college with a degree in linguistics. That makes her an expert linguist! Not only do I think the lyrical quality of her writing will be good, I’m a little intimidated, for fuck’s sake!
“You ask me if I’d coming home but you don’t know that I’d rather be alone. Darkness consumes the sky as the cold wind becomes my guide.
Maybe I have trust issues. Maybe I don’t wanna be misused. Lately I haven’t even missed you. You don’t deserve forgiveness.”
This song is likely about a relationship; likely a romantic one. It’s probable that the romantic relationship has ended but the object is trying to get the subject back. The subject, however, is unforgiving.
As the song continues, the subject recounts some of the painful memories of when the relationship was either still in place or when it was ending. “I remember when you said I was better off dead.” This is something that I imagine is being said to just hurt a person. So, it would make sense that it would be used in a fight that led to a break up. If you really think about it, how does one come back from saying that?
I think the lyrics of this song paint a clear, vivid story. I think, lyrically, there is passion behind the decisiveness of the subject. I think that The Wanderer Edit has shown a real talent for putting depth into her songwriting.
Final Thoughts
The Wanderer Edit is an exciting young artist to add into a rotation of artists to listen to. She is going to blend best with pop, electric, techno, and new age styles of music. She has an eclectic sound.
As I stated before, the most notable thing that caught my attention was the improvement to the production quality from the first releases to the newest ones. She is certainly heading in the right direction but to show so much improvement in just a couple of years is very impressive. I am very eager to see where this learning curve takes her.
The Wanderer Edit’s most recent release, Knocking on my Door, released on December 16th, 2024.
You can subscribe to The Wanderer Edit’s YouTube channel where she has posted an official music video for I am OK.
You can follow The Wanderer Edit here on TikTok.
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