‘Highway Boys’ has a darkness to it, an atmosphere that’s caked in the daunting and ominous production that Anne Bennett sings over. The song is all about feeling a sense of relief and escape, living life on the edge and letting go of all the routine and mundane activities that make it boring and uninteresting. Her voice is magnetic, carrying with it a suaveness and roaring emotion that’s masterfully controlled and intonated by Bennett. She sees her influence emanating from her hometown Salem, a place she feels has a dark mystery and witchy past to it. That haunting energy carries over to her music and the soundscapes she brings to life.
Growing up, Bennett’s strict Catholic upbringing and sheltered experience made music her outlet of choice to express herself to the world around her. There’s a deep seated darkness embedded in her art, but she’s able to transform it into a freeing and liberating experience for her listeners. She wants to make music that speaks to ideas of resilience, of persevering through hardship that may have you feeling like the weight of the world is crushing your shoulders. On Highway Boys, that feeling is masterfully evoked.