Nowottny, Marianne
Afraid Of Me
Afraid of Me, stands as a haunting artifact of teenage isolation and uninhibited avant-pop brilliance. Released when Nowottny was just sixteen years old, the record swiftly captivated New York's underground art and music circles with its fearless originality. Recorded using a Radio-Shack keyboard, the album bridges outsider art, synth-minimalism, and raw psychodrama. At the center of the music is Nowottny's deep, surprisingly mature voice, shifting effortlessly from eerie, spectral croons to impassioned, jagged declarations. Swirling around her vocals are skewed digital textures, tilt-a-whirl melodies, and stark arrangements that create an atmosphere both icily austere and strangely intimate. Earning praise from outlets like the New York Times, The WIRE Magazine and the New York Press for its astonishing emotional weight, Afraid of Me captured the unvarnished creative spark of an artist constructing a world entirely her own. Decades later, it remains a celebrated touchstone of bedroom experimentation and fiercely independent avant-garde music.