Critically acclaimed Irish singer Imelda May who "performs with undeniable flair" (Associated Press) today premieres her first new music in nearly three years. The track "Call Me "the first single from her forthcoming 2017 release, is out today on Verve Records. Soundcloud and Spotify.
Produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, the track marks a new direction for May who, in the time since her 2014 release Tribal, ended her marriage of eighteen years. "Call Me" is among the most autobiographical songs May has written, with Burnett noting, "I've never met anyone quite like Imelda May. She is full of life. When I first happened onto her music, she was a punky Irish Rockabilly singer with a great band. I was intrigued by her deep feeling for and understanding of that American art form, much of which, of course, had originated in Ireland. When I ran across her several years later, she had gone through a change of lives and was writing about it with a wild intensity and singing about it in the most open hearted way. I was inspired by her honesty and her generosity, and I continue to be intrigued." Adds May, "It's therapy, like keeping a diary that a lot of people read. Some of my favorite songs don't say much, but they reveal everything."
May's new musical direction accompanies an overarching stylistic change for the established singer. "I always loved the '50s rockabilly style but there was a point where I felt I was almost dressing up as Imelda May," she notes. "It was as if I was getting into character for a gig. And I didn't want to do that anymore. This is me."
The upcoming album features contributions from guitar hero
Jeff Beck and piano maestro Jools Holland, as well as an accomplished group of backing musicians including the core trio of guitarist
Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello), drummer Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss) and bassist Zach Dawes (The Last Shadow Puppets, Mini Mansions). Recorded over seven days in Los Angeles, the songs on the upcoming record were written over the course of May's tumultuous past year. May states that she began writing songs for the album with "no preconceived notions of where it was going to go. My plan was to have no plan because it was freedom. It was liberating."
May's previous records have seen success both in the U.S. as well as in Europe. Tribal debuted at #1 in Ireland and #3 in the UK. The Guardian gave the album four stars, saying "This album is no time capsule; it's fresh and embracing..." while The Times praised May's "raw, impassioned vocals." Her previous release, 2010's Mayhem, also received critical acclaim with The Los
Angeles Times commenting, "Ireland-born Imelda May's career is fostered by paying homage to legends like Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash and, more importantly, furthering rockabilly's cross-pollination into New
Orleans jazz, delta blues and amp-splitting punk aggression." Mayhem went Platinum in Ireland and Gold in the U.K., while May has seen performances on "Later...With Jools Holland," "Conan," "and an impressive four performances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," to name a few.
Artist photo credit (right): Roger Deckker
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