On Nov. 7, London-based singer/songwriter Ananya released “My Darling New York,” a complex love letter to the City That Never Sleeps. Just weeks later on Nov. 25, she released its accompanying music video, an emotional visual companion capturing the highs and lows of life in the city.

“Sometimes freedom and fragility can coexist,” said Ananya. “The moments that make you feel most alive can also be the ones that leave you most exposed. … I wanted it to feel real, like that bittersweet mix of joy and ache you get when something means everything to you (and you’re maybe afraid to lose it if you haven’t already).”

When it comes to musical confessionals set in America’s most populous city, Ananya is not the first artist to take a stab at putting her feelings into words, but her perspective is a unique one. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, she currently resides in London, bringing a long list of lived perspectives to the writing table. On “My Darling New York,” Ananya puts her well-traveled background to work.

“Without this sounding cliché, it was a very cathartic experience for me,” said Ananya of the writing process for the single. “It helped me unpack a lot of memories that I hadn’t realized I was still holding onto. Writing music is always healing, but sometimes you don’t realize just how much it can be.”

While New York might be more isolated from the rest of the world, it shares London’s reputation as a true international city. Different languages ring out from every direction, and its epicenters are filled with a unique brand of controlled chaos. It’s not uncommon to be overwhelmed there, but finding a strange sense of belonging is not out of the question either.

“Something that always strikes me is the sense of possibility,” said Ananya. “It's made me feel infinite even in my own space. The low, though, is how easy it can be to lose yourself in the intensity of it. Even though it's inspiring, it's exhausting. It's been a bit of an on-and-off relationship, but I never stopped loving NYC. It's about appreciating the moments it gave me, even the hard ones.”

Just like its namesake city, “My Darling New York” is for everyone.

“Something that started as a song about loss and longing slowly became a love letter to growth and gratitude,” said Ananya. “It reminded me that closure doesn’t always mean forgetting. Sometimes it’s simply learning to remember differently.”