Anna Butterss is a shapeshifting bassist who’s racked up a staggering CV through the years, including credits with Jeff Parker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Jenny Lewis. When they’re not adding low-end groove to those projects, though, they’re turning an eye toward their own solo work — most recently with their second album, Mighty Vertebrate, which is out today via International Anthem.
“I had just gotten off a bunch of touring at the end of 2022 and wanted to write music,” they say. “The best way for me to do that, I’ve found, is to set myself a discrete and focused task.” Though Butterss typically plays upright and electric bass, they extend themselves to guitar, synths, flute, and drum machine on varying songs and challenge themselves to explore new routes — including ones “where the bass doesn’t function in the role of a bass” and using “groups of three-bar phrasing.” “Every song was like that,” Butterss continues. “Then once I got started, I just followed where my mind wanted to go. It was very structured.”
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You can hear that throughout its 10 tracks as Butterss continues to widen their sound and remain open to possibility. There’s the krauty groove that defines their other bands — Parker’s IVtet and SML — expressive sax (courtesy of longtime collaborator Josh Johnson), and sampling that reflects Butterss’ love of hip-hop. Parker even guests on “Dance Steve,” adding guitar to its head-nodding beat. It all culminates in a playful fusion that represents the bassist’s deep sense of adventure and vision.
Mighty Vertebrate is out today on vinyl, CD, and digital download, which you can purchase below.