Betty - Anna van riel feat. ryan fisherman
Anna van Riel has been on a defiantly creative journey in recent months.
Working with longtime musical collaborator Danny Fairley in his studio Mirrors Audio, the three-time Tui-nominated artist has been crafting her seventh studio album, and her first “adult” album in a decade, following a successful stint in the world of children’s music.
The album, Wooden Leg, is due to drop in February 2026. Two singles in, the tea leaves are telling me the album is going to be a revelation.
The first single, 14 Years, released in September, offered a psychedelic taste of the swampy, spiritual ambience she has conjured with the help of Fairley and a cast of quality southern folkies.
The second single, Betty, arrives in time for Halloween, on October 31st. The timing of this is appropriate. Having had the chance to preview the song, I’m fascinated by its haunting resonance and dark beauty. There must be some strange voodoo swirling in the misty valleys of Hawea.
It’s a duet with notable Christchurch vocalist Ryan Fisherman, whose weary baritone helps to give the song an ominous and eerie Nick Cave vibe.
As for the titular Betty, van Riel says she’s inspired by the 1870s folk song In the Pines, covered by Leadbelly in 1944 and re-covered as Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Nirvana during their legendary 1993 MTV Unplugged show.
In van Riel’s reading, Betty is an unsmiling, booze-ravaged ruin found in a burning fever on the edge of madness and death. So it’s not a chipper or uplifting ditty but the thought-provoking imagery of the lyrics is potently unsettling.
Sonically it’s a wonderful piece of alt-folk music with skilful instrumentation and rich production. Plus, you’ve got to have a healthy respect for any song that couples “truthless” with “ruthless”.
Look out for Betty in all the usual places this Halloween.
Reviewed by Chris Chilton