![]() It’s fair to say she became one of the stars of the Americana genre with just one album (after previously being part of many album projects with bands or duos involving Nero) - a record that was undeniably lovely but also uncompromisingly tough in its themes of childhood abuse and finding health, freedom and community as an adult. “Outside Child” was multiply Grammy-nominated and won the album of the year trophy at the Americana Honors & Awards in 2022, after landing atop or near the top of many critics’ 2021 top 10 lists, including the New York Times’ and Variety‘s. Russell had plenty of reason to come into the recording of “The Returner” with great confidence. … I hope people feel some of the joy in this record.” It’s like a celebratory soundtrack for getting tired of hating yourself and deciding you’re worthy. This is about being back in your own body and celebrating that. With “The Returner,” in contrast, she says, “You can take deep dives on these songs if you want to, but you don’t have to. The album is less strictly autobiographically focused than her breakthrough, which had extensive liner notes explaining the elements of her life story that went into the lyrics. ![]() “But it’s a word that, for me, has layers that are shifting continually, and I think for a listener who it resonates for, it will have different meanings and layers that shift continually for them, too.” But also, I was listening to her my whole existence my mom, as a so-called unwed teenage mom in Montreal in 1979, was listening to Joni Mitchell’s ‘Ladies of the Canyon’ and ‘Clouds’ nonstop. Obviously there was just the joy of hearing and seeing her play again for me, the first time ever in my life, live, when nobody thought she would be able to be up there for an hour and a half, singing songs and playing guitar like that, ever again. That was such a moving, intense experience that had many layers to me. I wrote a poem about Joni, and in the poem I called her ‘Our Lady Returner.’ I thought about how much grit and grace that she has as a human being to be able to come back from death, not once, but three times, and to relearn not just how to sing and play, but how to walk and talk. “The first time that word really came to me was when we did the surprise Joni Jam at the Newport Folk Festival last summer. “It’s so appropriate that we’re having this conversation right now, because I’m about to head out to the Gorge,” says Russell. Russell says the name of the album was actually sparked by her thoughts about Joni Mitchell, who she’ll be joining this Saturday at the Gorge in Washington state, along with doing her own set opening for Brandi Carlile the night before. ![]() The album title isn’t just about this being her second solo record, although it’s at least inadvertently an apropos moniker for a sophomore effort. Apart from those two collaborators, nearly everyone involved with the record on the musician and tech levels is a woman, many of them part of her touring band … and some that aren’t, like Wendy and Lisa, along with the illustrious Sista Stings ensemble. This time, Russell joined in the production duties, co-producing and co-writing everything with Dim Star, the duo that consists of Drew Lindsay and JT Nero, the latter her partner in life as well as music. A taste of the 10-track album on the Fantasy label is being offered via the just-released title track.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |