February is a month of duality. On one hand, it’s a season of love for those more romantic of us to revel in the reds and pinks of Valentine’s Day. On the other, it’s the tail end of winter where the wreckages of seasonal depression are taking its toll on some. This month, the London-based singer-songwriter Savannah Gardner leans into the darker emotions in her recent single ‘This Pain is Love’. Written in only 30 minutes during a walk through the capital’s distinctive Richmond Park, this song is steeped in grief, loss and (of course) love. It’s a touchingly vulnerable tribute to the memory of Savannah’s late mother.

Compared to Savannah’s previous releases, ‘This Pain Is Love’ stands in stark contrast to the theatrical expression and high-octane pop, because here it feels fitting to tap into more organic, folky and down-to-earth textures. Enhanced by a luscious production courtesy of Jack Trouble, this track is composed of steady percussion and expansive guitar lines, which perfectly set the tone for Savannah’s intimate vocal performance. Pivoting between the five stages of grief, her voice is packed with pain and vulnerability. Her solitude is deeply felt throughout this track, yet there’s also something else that’s ever present – her love for her mother. ‘This Pain Is Love’ is a truly moving and unmistakably honest song.

“Over the past decade working as a musician – music has saved me countless of times. I write to figure out how I feel about things. I wrote this song to figure out how I felt about my mom dying. I’m still in deep grief – but this song came out so naturally in a way that conversations with friends and loved ones never do when talking about pain. “This Pain is Love” is my love letter to my mom and how I’ll always carry her with me in everything I do. It has given me clarity and has shown me that yet again – music saves me.”

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