When Ingrid Andress first wrote her new song “Footprints” (LISTEN HERE), she had no intention of sharing it with the world. A stripped-back piano ballad penned for her younger siblings, its release Monday follows a valiant National Anthem performance being hailed as “iconic” by fans and critics alike. The bittersweet but hopeful track drifts between self-aware confession and lovingly detailed storytelling as Andress offers up words of reassurance for making it through tough times.
“This song means so much to me that I didn’t think I’d ever put it out, and now it resonates with me even more than when I wrote it,” says the Colorado-bred, Nashville-based singer/songwriter. “I was the first sibling to venture out on my own and pursue my dreams, and I think it’s my role as an older sister to encourage them to do the same. I want them to learn from my mistakes, and to know that you can mess up and still keep moving forward. It doesn’t feel great to fail, but it can end up making you stronger.”
Her first new music since her highly acclaimed 2022 sophomore LP Good Person, “Footprints” arrives after a whirlwind year for Andress, including a National Anthem performance that led to a stint in rehab. The experience profoundly altered her perspective on her career.
As she stepped back from the spotlight, Andress found herself called to a new level of boldness in her songwriting. “It felt like the Band-Aid had been ripped off and I’d lost the fear of making my lyrics very specific to my experience,” she says. “Instead of trying to write songs that everyone can hear themselves in, I wanted to get back to being radically honest and really let my voice come through. It’s so much more fulfilling, and I don’t feel like I’m hiding anymore.”
“Footprints” is the first glimpse of what’s to come from the beloved singer/songwriter, who reunited with her longtime collaborator Sam Ellis to produce the track adorned with warm Dobro tones and heavy-hearted strings. As she gets set to release her most introspective output yet, Ingrid Andress aims to inspire others toward a state of unhurried self-reflection.
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