Healing isn’t linear — and sometimes, we get a reminder at a time we’d least expect.

For Leah Martel, it came at a time in her life when *everything* seemed to be clicking. She had just graduated, was in a wonderful new relationship, had a new job, and was enjoying a drama-free existence.

Even so, something felt amiss…

“I felt horrible. I was riddled with worry, anxiety, and a sense of doom,” Martel said. “Previous to this, there had always been a reason for those feelings, I had always been going through a difficult relationship, job, or living situation, and I realized that, even with those troubles gone, they left a mark on me. Even with all the monsters dead, a part of them lived inside of me now.”

In that space, Martel penned “What Doesn’t Make Me Stronger,” a gritty, alt-country tune about the ways our demons come back around to haunt us.

“I was just at the start of a mental health journey now and, for the first time, facing questions like, ‘can I actually overcome this, or am I broken forever?’ Martel said. “I knew one thing only, I was determined to keep trying, no matter what I had to face. That felt like a good thing, but also an ominous thing, like I might have to go through a lot more pain first before actually feeling better.”

That sense of determination shines through on “What Doesn’t Make Me Stronger.” Twangy lap steel and electric guitars flash glimmers of hope before leading us to a triumphant crescendo, while the tune’s textured, rootsy sensibility and intricate rhythmic layers speak to the sense of resolve it takes to slay our inner beasts — once and for all.

“Of all the songs I’ve recorded so far, this one felt like a truly special moment in the studio,” Martel said. “I was lucky enough to have the best pop and country guitar players I’ve ever met on this track. When we did the electric guitar and lap steel solos, I got shivers. My drummer (Brandon Pellatt) also pulled out the coolest percussion instruments — all these different shaker pods and balls, and it just added the coolest textures. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many different instruments on a song before, and it really became more than I ever envisioned.”