Americana/Folk Rock Band The Naked Sun Release Debut Album WAR WITH SHADOWS 1/26

Since releasing their self-produced "Pickled Hearts" EP in May 2015 and first studio EP, "Space, Place, and Time", in 2013, Philadelphia's The Naked Sun has evolved into a rousing power-folk outfit that has been celebrated for its playful and poignant brand of indie folk/rock. They may or may not have coined the phrase, but "honest rock" has unquestionably been their ethos since their start back in 2011. With songs that echo the rawness and sincerity of the cities around which its members grew up-Detroit, Baltimore, Philadelphia-the band blends the basics of roots rock and folk with layers of bolstering piano and organ, intricate pedal steel leads, and melodic choruses backed by satisfying vocal harmonies. Now, The Naked Sun is proud to announce that they will be releasing their debut album, "War with Shadows", this Friday, 1/26.

Rooted in the songwriting of frontman and acoustic/electric rhythm guitarist Andrew Wesley Harris, all the band members - Philly indie scene veterans Tim Campbell (lead guitar, pedal steel, backing vocals) and Ken Letherer (bass); Dave Gladney (drums); Alan Sheltzer (acoustic piano, electric piano, organ); and Nerissa Jaucian (backing vocals, lead vocals on the song "Snail Mail"), contribute to the band's amalgam of rock, pop and folk.

"War with Shadows", which Andrew says has "a heavy emphasis on lyrical content and themes of addiction, regret, redemption, love and loss.", was produced by Brian McTear (War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, matt pond PA, Sharon van Etten, Joan Osbourne, the Districts, among many others), and was recorded in July of 2017 at Miner Street Recordings in Fishtown, PA. The album features drummer Pat Berkery on the tracks "Do You Wanna Dance?" "Rose Gold", "Purple Sunset", and "Clouds" and cellist Eve Miller on "Clouds". "Brian was amazing to work with and he not only challenged us to write our best music, but he help to arrange and rearrange some of our songs, and he even made me write a new verse for a song literally while we tracked vocals for that song", Andrew says.

The first single and video from the album is "Holdin' Back the Heart". "Holdin' is the very first song the band wrote together way back in 2010, when we were first starting out. We've closed almost every single one of our shows since our inception with this song. I knew it was special when I wrote it because it was one of those songs that just kind of came out of me. I wrote the chorus and music in what seemed to be 5 minutes, but was probably more like a half hour. This was a totally different style of music for me to write, and at the time a part of me didn't want to write it because it seemed so out of place. I quickly killed that voice and let it come out. Lyrically this song is about falling in love again, after losing in love so many times before. It's about vulnerability, letting one's guard down, and letting someone in to the most delicate space of your soul, your heart. I married the woman I am writing about in the song 5 years later."

You can stream "Holdin' Back the Heart" here!

Check out the video here!

With a true love for song, the band cites a wide spectrum of influences from which they draw their inspiration - Tom Petty's pop genius, Bruce Springsteen's storytelling, Bob Dylan's social consciousness, and the energy of My Morning Jacket. Using this diverse range of musical inspiration, they set out to deliver melody and down to earth lyrics while combining with a backbone of melodic bass lines with and evocative arrangements. "The writing process for me is a constant thing", Andrew says. "I write all of the time and tend to collect songs until it is time to record them."

In the words of "The Owl" magazine, "Restrained and subtle, but at the same time warm and genuine, The Naked Sun stand out in amongst the crowds of rock bands by simply keeping it simple."

Website: www.wearethenakedsun.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fatalien215

Twitter: @thenakedsun1

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Photo credit: Charles Wrzesniewski

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