LINDI ORTEGA ANNOUNCES NEW LP
Shadowbox Music
Lindi Ortega “has always been the sonic embodiment of the red cowboy boots she’s often seen wearing: a fiery and dramatic take on modern country that’s impossible to ignore” (Rolling Stone Country), and her fifth studio record Liberty is no exception. Due out March 30, Ortega wrote roughly half of the twelve tracks solo, and enlisted co-writers Aaron Raitiere, Bruce Wallace, and John Paul White (The Civil Wars) for the rest. The result is a three-part concept album reflecting loss, seance, resurrection, and freedom.
The journey from darkness is told from a crowd of unsavory characters in “You Ain’t Foolin’ Me” and even a lost love from childhood in “Til My Dyin Day”. Then grief turns to desperation in “Nothing’s Impossible” and “The Comeback Kid”. However, the tides begin to turn on “Darkness Be Done”, and about halfway through, with “Forever Blue”, the character makes a choice to follow the light.
The track “Pablo” is inspired by her new husband, Daniel Huscroft. While they performed as a duo on a series of Chris Stapleton arena dates in Canada, Huscroft wore a poncho and grew a handlebar mustache — a look that led to a new nickname and a song title. Liberty concludes with “Gracias a la Vida” from the pen of Chilean composer Violetta Parra. The title translates as “Thank you to Life”.
“Even though I always tried to have a silver lining, whether it’s by making my songs tongue-in-cheek, or writing some dark lyrics to happy music, there’s always been an element of balancing light and dark on my previous albums,” Ortega explains. “But this is a full story, and I want everybody to be able to take something away from it at the end of the day.”
Recorded at Battle Tapes studio in East Nashville, Ortega and Skylar Wilson (Justin Townes Earle, Rayland Baxter) scaled back the boot-stomping, throwback country approach that she’s known for, instead polishing a set of music that reflects her Mexican lineage. Ortega and Wilson — who first bonded over their shared passion for Quentin Tarantino movies — then enhanced the sonic landscape with the help of Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy’s signature harmonica and Nashville-based band Steelism, drawing on the epic work of Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone, who became one of Ortega’s musical obsessions during the writing and recording of Liberty.
In addition to the album, Ortega will return to the road beginning this week, with dates planned in North America throughout Spring. For ticket information, and more on Lindi, please visit lindiortega.com.
Photo credit Kate Nutt
Tour Dates
Feb 4-11 – New Orleans, LA – Cayamo 2018
Feb 15 – Little Rock, AR – South On Main
Feb 16 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Saloon
Mar 15 – Swift Current, SK – The Lyric Theatre
Mar 16 – St. Albert, AB – Arden Theatre
Mar 17 – Fort Macleod, AB – Empress Theatre
Mar 24 – Seattle, WA – The Tractor Tavern
Mar 25 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Mar 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan Lounge
Mar 30 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Apr 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
Apr 3 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ
Apr 4 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada
Apr 5 – Houston, TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Apr 12 – Calgary, AB – Festival Hall
Apr 14 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
Apr 15 – Minneapolis, MN – Dakota Jazz Club
Apr 17 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Apr 19 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
Ap 20 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsay
Apr 21 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Apr 22 – Charlotte, NC – The Evening Muse
Apr 24 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
Apr 25 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
Apr 26 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
May 4 – Montreal, QC – L’Escogriffe
May 5 – Ottawa, ON – The 27 Club
May 6 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Coffee Shop
May 7 – Kitchener, ON – Centre In The Square
May 9 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club Theatre
May 10 – London, ON – Aeolian Hall
May 11 – Hamilton, ON – Mills Hardware
May 12 – Kingston, ON – Queen’s Grad Club
Lindi Ortega
Liberty
(Shadowbox Music)
Release Date: March 30, 2018
Pre-Order Via
Track Listing
Through The Dust Part I
1. Afraid of the Dark
2. You Ain’t Foolin’ Me
3. Til My Dyin Day
4. Nothings Impossible
Though The Dust Part II
5. The Comeback Kid
6. Darkness Be Gone
7. Forever Blue
8. In The Clear
9. Pablo
10. Lovers In Love
Through The Dust Part III
11. Liberty
12. Gracias a la Vida
Artist Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHAS CRONK – LIBERTY
