NEW ALBUM MAY YOUR KINDNESS REMAIN OUT MARCH 23
a collection of songs, borne from interactions with others, that strives for healing and empathy in the midst of division and discord.” – NPR MUSIC
“it’s more proof that Courtney is a force to be reckoned with.” – BROOKLYN VEGAN
“…a glimpse as to how far her voice will go…” – STEREOGUM
“… midway between Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston.” – NM
Courtney Marie Andrews’ played her first show in New Zealand in July 2017 on the back of rapturous applause for her then new album ‘Honest Life‘. The crowd at that first show described Courtney’s performance as “exquisite”, “utterly brilliant” and Courtney described the down-under tour as “pure joy”. So much so, she returned in November last year to woe the crowds once more with a promise to return in 2018 with her brand new album.
Today Courtney shares a new song, “Kindness of Strangers,” It is the second song unveiled from Andrews’ anticipated new full-length album, May Your Kindness Remain, which will be released March 23 on Fat Possum Records/Mama Bird Recording Co.
Produced by Mark Howard (Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Tom Waits), the album was recorded over eight days at a rented house-turned-studio in L.A. In addition to Andrews on vocals and electric/acoustic guitar, the album features Dillon Warnek (electric guitar), Daniel Walter (organ, Wurlitzer, accordion), Charles Wicklander (piano, Wurlitzer), William Mapp (drums, percussion), Alex Sabel (bass) and C.C. White (background vocals).
Listen to the new song, Kindness of Strangers HERE
Of the album and the inspiration behind its ten songs, Andrews comments, “The people that I’ve met on the road these past few years got me thinking about my childhood, and the people around me that I’ve known, and the stories that come from my family. It became clear how many people are struggling through the same issues. People are constantly chasing that bigger life. A lot of people are poor in America—and because of those unattainable goals, they’re also mentally unstable, or sad, or depressed or unfulfilled. A lot of people—myself included at some point in my life—are loving somebody through this. That’s sort of the theme of the record: coming to terms with depression and the reality of the world we’re living in.”
The new album is the follow-up to Andrews’ breakthrough album, Honest Life, which received overwhelming acclaim and landed on multiple “Best of 2016” lists, including at NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, The Bluegrass Situation, American Songwriter, Paste Magazine, Folk Alley and ABC News among others. The Bluegrass Situation called her, “a singular voice, one that can only be understood by being heard,” while Stereogum described the debut as, “an expert marriage of gracefully confessional songwriting with country-folk arrangements that recall Joni Mitchell.” Upon its release in the U.K., the album reached #1 on the U.K. Americana Chart and #1 on the Independent Album Breakers Chart and was awarded a five-star review from The Daily Telegraph who called it, “an absolutely perfect little gem of an album.” In April 2017, Andrews made her debut on the BBC’s legendary “Later…with Jools Holland” program.
Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain (Official Audio)
Already receiving widespread attention, the album’s title track was recently featured as part of NPR Music’s “Songs We Love” series. Of the song NPR Music praises, “Sonically, the track signals a new direction for Andrews, who, alongside producer Mark Howard, ventures beyond acoustic folk and into gospel, soul, and rock over the course of the song’s four minutes.” Additionally, Brooklyn Vegan calls it, “…a gorgeous dose of Courtney’s Joni Mitchell-esque folk that brings in some unexpected distorted guitar, gospel-inspired harmonies, and more. It’s more proof that Courtney is a force to be reckoned with,” while Stereogum asserts, “Andrews gives us a glimpse as to how far her voice will go with the gospel-powered title track. Electric guitar and a soulful organ bass combine with Andrews’ traditional folk songwriting to drive the chorus…We’d all do well to listen” and Rolling Stonedeclares, “…awash in church organ, lush harmonies, and a soaring, impassioned lead vocal from Andrews, whose twang quivers and shudders as she scales the song’s climactic final refrain.”
COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS ONLINE:
Official Website: www.courtneymarieandrews.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtneyMarieAndrews
Twitter: https://twitter.com/courtneymamusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymarieandrews/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1EI0B66miJj5Fl408B7E9H
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/courtney-marie-andrews/287157006
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/courtneymarieandrews
