In a little less than two months’ time, the Louisville, Kentucky-based singer and songwriter Joan Shelley will release her eponymous fourth album. Recorded at Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy’s Chicago studio The Loft and backed by his son Spencer Tweedy on drums alongside Shelley’s longtime associates Nathan Salsburg and James Elkington, if lead single ‘Wild Indifference’ is to be our barometer then the record promises to once more mine her familiar traditional seam of beautifully restrained folk music.
Speaking about ‘Wild Indifference’ in a recent NPR Music interview, Joan Shelley said “If I had my way, every song would eventually lead to empathy. Music can take you out of your head and into your body and heart, where there’s more opportunity for empathy and a de-escalation of the dramas we make for ourselves. That’s part of the path of this one. The song is addressed to another person but circles back inward.”
Despite the apparent complete and utter disregard inherent in its title, there can be no doubting the song’s compassion and understanding as Joan Shelley and her musical cohorts deftly weave the most simple, delicate and seductive of melodies over the innate warmth of her words.
Joan Shelley will be released on the 5th of May 2017 via No Quarter.
To coincide with the release of the album Joan Shelley will head out on a tour of the UK and Ireland.
Tour Dates:
27th April: Debarra’s – Clonakilty, IE
28th April: Kilkenny Roots Festival – Kilkenny, IE
29th April: Kilkenny Roots Festival – Kilkenny, IE
30th April: Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival – Belfast, UK
3rd May: The Greyhound – Kilkee, IE
4th May: Whelan’s Upstairs – Dublin, IE
5th May: The Glad Café – Glasgow, UK
6th May: The Eagle Inn – Manchester, UK
7th May: The Wardrobe – Bristol, UK
8th May: The Lexington – London, UK
