Singer-songwriter Veronica Lewis traverses grief and dysfunction on ‘Too Late for Tears’

WBUR | October 30, 2024

Singer-songwriter Veronica Lewis grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts and Keene, New Hampshire. The 20-year-old experiences a tactile relationship with her emotions stemming from nature, relishing in sensations like the brush of a cool breeze across her face.

She distills those moments into lush soundscapes layered with impressive vocal maturity that allow listeners to soak in the depths of her afflictions. Her music feels like sitting alone among the trees, staring up at broken light shining through tangled branches.

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“I love forest bathing, getting out in the woods and just having that deeper connection with nature,” she said.

This bond informs her raw music-making. Lewis released her second record “Too Late for Tears” in August.  The artist will play these profoundly personal selections at the Middle East – Upstairs in Cambridge on Oct. 30.

Lewis’ music repertoire spans from the 1940s to current hits because of her grandfather. “He actually lost his sight when he was like 15 years old, so that’s the way we really could connect, was through music,” she said. “And he really instilled in me a love for finding music that excited me.”

She started playing roots rock piano at 6 years old, composing instrumental pieces. Then she began writing lyrics and performing originals at 12, inspired by American roots and blues.

In 2020, Lewis won a Boston Music Award for Best Blues Act and was recognized by The New England Music Hall of Fame as Best Young Artist. She released her DIY album “You Ain’t Lucky” the following year at 17 years old. Her sophomore record “Too Late for Tears” reaches into new sonic territory, leaning into an indie rock sound.

Along with writing and singing her own music, Lewis is building her multi-instrumentalist skills. She self-produced and played piano on her first album. With her second, she picked up guitar, synths, electronic drums and percussion. And she isn’t afraid of sharing grief and coming-of-age tribulations with her audience.

“I definitely processed a lot writing this album, but it feels really special to be sharing it, and there’s a lot of people who have reached out and said they’re really connecting with it,” Lewis said. “That really is the most incredible thing about releasing music is that you can connect with people, even if it’s such a personal song.”

Lewis feels the spiritual presence of people in a similar way to her visceral connection with the natural world.

She lost her family friend Nathaniel to an accidental fentanyl overdose and felt his absence in everything. Her overwhelming grief led to “Disconnected,” a haunting swell of pain and loss.

Lewis cries out for her friend as piano chords ring out, a solemn guitar riff rocks back and forth and pounding drums push her forward, even if she’s not ready. It’s a cinematic and emotional tribute.

“Try to move on, forget it/ Can’t forget what you left behind/ What you left behind,” she sings. “Every night/ I left it open/ Thought I heard your footsteps/ Out there/ Yeah, yeah/ The wind came in and blew it down/ The rain came in, washed it out/ Disconnected.”

Lewis stumbles through an abandoned house, desperately searching for someone, in the accompanying music video. She runs through a snow-covered field with a long red scarf trailing behind her. The fabric train symbolizes the inescapable pain that follows you when someone you love is gone.

“I started processing it with lyrics and trying to make sense of it. It was a shock,” Lewis said. “I just hope that if anyone else is going through something like that, that can help them in even a small way and bring awareness to something that’s really becoming more of a problem, which is fentanyl overdoses.”

On “Too Late for Tears,” Lewis also sings about finding herself, healing from the conclusion of a romantic relationship and generational trauma. The record draws inspiration from alt-indie and bedroom pop artists, including Clairo, Soccer Mommy and Maddie Diaz.

Lewis has been touring for the past few years, but took a break this year to write and reflect. She explained how “Girl I Used to Know” encapsulates her growth.

“I think through this album for sure, I really connected and grounded myself with who I am now as well as who I used to be,” she said.