Releasing original music is not for the faint-hearted. What you're effectively doing is sharing, through song, all the thoughts that live inside your head — the good, the bad and the ugly, if it's honest writing.

The running joke among my friends is that I never do small talk. I tend to dive straight into whatever issue is on my mind, and I rarely shy away from the uncomfortable things. So it was with a mixture of excitement and slight nervousness that, after eight years away from releasing an album under the ISQ banner, I finally released the first single from my forthcoming album, The Silence Is Deafening.

It was wonderful to see how much Animal - inspired by my relationship with my mother - resonated with people. After all, la mamma è sempre la mamma.

If you listened, shared, streamed, messaged, commented or simply cheered me on quietly from afar, thank you.

I was really happy to see the single picked up by a number of music publications and reviewers. What touched me most wasn't just that people enjoyed the song, but that several writers seemed to connect with the deeper themes behind it and the wider picture of what I'm trying to do as an artist.

And, if I'm honest, they also said some pretty lovely things about me. I like to think I'm above such things, but apparently a few kind words still go a long way 😂

A few words that made my soul feel warm and fuzzy — and helped me stay quietly confident during those inevitable moments of self-doubt:

“a quiet creative brilliance... immediately arresting” Read full review

"What makes 'Animal' especially compelling is the wisdom woven throughout Irene Serra's performance. Her voice feels lived-in and full of memories, almost like pages from a memoir slowly unfolding through melody and poetry." Read full review

"Do you know what the great strength of 'Animal' is? The singer's ability to bring elegance and sophistication without ever losing its pop appeal. That is an impressive skill and demonstrates a rare sense of accessibility in music." Read full review (in Portughese!)

On another equally exciting musical note, the second single from the upcoming album, On Shoulders of Giants, will be released on Friday 17th July.

It's a dreamy, folk-infused alt-pop song inspired by countless walks and ski touring trips in Valle d'Aosta, where the mountains have a remarkable way of shrinking life's worries and reminding you how much we owe to those who came before us.

I'll be sharing more about the song and the music video with you exclusively in a few weeks because, as members of my inner circle, you always get first dibs and a deeper glimpse into my musical (and occasionally non-musical) world.

In the meantime, I wanted to give you a little preview of the artwork, created by none other than the wonderfully talented Tamara Ablameiko. Enjoy!