Photo by M. Davidson-Schapiro

Ahead of Steph Barrak’s upcoming EP, Never Again, Allston Pudding premieres “All Of This Was Hard” the indie pop single that gently puts 2016 in review, and still manages to tread forward. In the context of the past 12 months, the Boston-based singer-songwriter definitely hits the nail on the head by putting out this dressed up version of the track (originally released in 2012) at the start of a new year. One dreamy layer upon another, this single relates to how a lot of us feel right around the new year: exhausted, and on the verge of rebuilding.

“Sometimes the only way to push forward is to act – to do anything other than nothing – even when you feel hopeless and disconnected,” explains Barrak. And with the addition of a backing band, this recording of “All Of This Was Hard,” certainly sounds more full, like she is pushing forward with a different sound and pace that’s easy, yet relentless right up to the end.

Then, as Barrak repeats lyrics like “I set it all on fire/ what a perfect start,” it suddenly doesn’t matter that the song was written years ago — it’s accessible. Because all of this was hard, and it’s good to hear people say it, or in Barrak’s case, set it to an indie pop dreamscape. This is where the artist’s sense of songwriting and honesty shine. If Never Again can manage to tap into that relatability, and maybe keep up the less folky, more emo/indie sound, it seems like 2017 will have a perfect start for Steph Barrak, indeed.

Never Again, produced by Mike Davidson (St. Vincent, Jose Gonzalez, Regina Spektor) is due out on February 3, 2017. Find the first single, “So Familiar” off the upcoming EP here, and click play on “All Of This Was Hard” below.