Sofi Thanhauser's self-titled debut album is an Island CD in the fullest sense: created by an Island native, showcasing Island musicians, and recorded in West Tisbury.
Sofi Thanhauser, the West Tisbury singer/songwriter, at Che's Lounge, where she celebrated the release of her debut album, Friday, May15
Dealing with situations and feelings, the songs all tell relatable stories. "I think of myself more as a lyricist than as a musician," says Ms. Thanhauser. "The formal connection between music and words is something I want to work more on. People put text and music together as if that's not an extraordinary thing to do, and it is. In classical music, a melody line stands alone. I trusted the musical composition of the album to my friends."
Those friends, including Matthew Cullen, and the Vineyard's own Nina Violet, Tim Laursen, and Willy Mason handle most of the recording and arrangement of the album, most of which was done in West Tisbury. It is being sold at Che's Lounge in Vineyard Haven and Aboveground Records in Edgartown.
To listen to "Puppeteer" by Ms. Thanhauser, click here 
"An audience of strangers is much less frightening than an audience with just a couple of friends," Ms. Thanhauser says. "Having your friends see you create art is the real test. They're who you're really holding yourself accountable to."
The songs flow smoothly from one to another. Each brings a fresh sound, and no two songs use the same devices to hold the listener's attention. At times, such as on "Finest Foal," Ms. Thanhauser's storytelling creates a moody atmosphere, incorporating strong rhythmic elements. On other tracks, such as on "Lena," Ms. Thanhauser's vocals employ a less structured rhythm and an almost comedic timing.
The opening track, "Tell Me," begins with the sound of sustained strings that eventually merge into rumbling percussion. Add to that, provocative lyrics delivered with surprising shifts in rhythm. Each of the original songs evokes authenticity. The second track, "Pupeteer," swaggers before building to the chorus, stating: "I don't like pretending to be in love."
Another song, "Downtown," expresses both a brave and painful honesty that reflects an ingrained sadness.
On a small island, it takes a certain bravery to create something personal and air it so publically. "I was scared," Ms. Thanhauser says. "I had a moment of totally losing confidence, but I found resolve in that I'm after something a little bit more than being comfortable. It was scary. Living in a fishbowl, like we all do, you just have to get used to it. It makes you tough. The nice thing is, people are held accountable for their words and actions."
Ms. Thanhauser admits she had to force herself to finish the album, setting a deadline for herself in order to ensure its completion. Ultimately, she relinquished some creative control, but claims there were benefits to the lessons learned.
"Geraldine Brooks told me, 'You can't let the perfect become the enemy of the good,'" she says. "I could have worked on the album indefinitely. The good thing about completing something is not that it's done - it's that you can complete the next thing. I made almost every mistake you could make, but now I know how to make an album."
The album expresses a general melancholy. Even when the songs are dealing with the subject of love, they focus more on hard lessons learned, than the thrill of romance.
The singer/songwriter philosophy is expressed in the album's tribute to spring, "Danger, Danger," a song that gives a warning to those who are premature in believing that winter has ended, and leave themselves unprepared for a late frost: "As soon as you relax/ that's when it attacks."
Still, there is a difference between sad and depressing. The album repeatedly leaves spirits uplifted by the playfulness and wit of its lyrics.
"It's a pretty sad, dark album," Ms. Thanhauser says. "But at the same time, it's said that humans have a basic nobility in tragedy. I have had a very dark winter, but the point is, I'm alive and in control; I'm the master. The thing about struggling is, when you're struggling, you haven't succumbed."
Making the album was more a labor of love than a commercial venture, and Ms. Thanhauser talks freely about the difficulties in creating it and the things that she wants to do better next time. But she has succeeded in making something that is beautiful.
Ben Williams is a regular contributor to The Martha's Vineyard Times.
