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Courtney Marie Andrews dropped another preview of her highly anticipated new full-length album, with the release of new song ‘Kindness Of Strangers’, which premiered today with Fader (USA) in advance of the release of her album, May Your Kindness Remain.
The album will be released March 23 on Loose in the UK & Europe and Fat Possum Records/Mama Bird Recording Co. in the USA and is now available for pre-order (cma.lnk.to/mykr).
In support of the album, Andrews will tour the US and Europe throughout 2018, including a newly confirmed headline show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall on 24 April – see full dates below.
Discussing the poignant song, Courtney stated, ““Kindness of Strangers” was written directly after some legendary musicians took their own life. It sparked this long and deep thought about how we all feel disconnected with each other at some point in our lives. When you’re at your lowest of lows, even a friendly cashier can make your month. Human connection is essential for survival, and I’ve felt that void at so many different points in my life. This song portrays that void, and how even the smallest amount of kindness can save you.”
In advance of the release, the album’s title track was also premiered as part of NPR Music’s “Songs We Love” series landing support from UK tastemakers NME, Line Of Best Fit, Clash, BBC Music, Breaking More Waves as well as Stereogum, Rolling Stone and NPR Music who praised the track stating, “May Your Kindness Remain, a collection of songs, borne from interactions with others, that strives for healing and empathy in the midst of division and discord.”
UK fans fell for Courtney’s breakthrough album Honest Life last year, when as the BBC put it, she became an “overnight success” after 10 years trying to break into the business.
UK media such as The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times compared her music to the work of classic artists such as Guy Clark, John Prine, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Glen Campbell alongside modern references such as Laura Marling and Julie Byrne.
Mesmerised by her unique and timeless sound, which blends indie folk rock and country, media were also charmed by her persistence and drive. Courtney has been on the road since she was 16 years old, when she left home in Arizona for her first tour.
For the next decade she was a session and backup singer and guitarist for nearly 40 artists – from Jimmy Eat World to Damien Jurado – but she never stopped writing her own material. The resulting album Honest Life received its European release in January 2017, becoming one of the biggest breakthrough records of 2017 in the UK, with 4-5 star reviews from publications including Daily Telegraph, Uncut, Mojo and Q Magazine, as well as reaching #1 on the Official U.K. Americana Chart and #1 on the Independent Album Breakers Chart, remaining in the Americana Chart for 18 consecutive weeks.
In April 2017, Andrews made her debut on the BBC’s legendary “Later…With Jools Holland” programme. Honest Life received a nomination for International Album Of The Year with Courtney receiving a nomination for International Artist Of The Year at the UK Americana Awards, due to be held on 1st February in Hackney.
Produced by Mark Howard (Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Tom Waits), the new 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).
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.”
MAY YOUR KINDNESS REMAIN TRACK LIST
1. May Your Kindness Remain
2. Lift The Lonely From My Heart
3. Two Cold Nights In Buffalo
4. Rough Around The Edges
5. Border
6. Took You Up
7. This House
8. Kindness Of Strangers
9. I’ve Hurt Worse
10. Long Road Back To You
COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
February 3—Oxford, U.K.—St. Barnabas Church
February 4—Guildford, U.K.—The Keep (matinee show)
February 4—Guildford, U.K.—The Keep (late show)
April 12—Copenhagen, Denmark—Vega
April 13—Berlin, Germany—Privatclub
April 14—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Bitterzoet
April 15—Cologne, Germany—Studio 672
April 16—Brussels, Belgium—AB Club
April 18—Leeds, U.K.—Brudenell Social Club
April 19—Edinburgh, U.K.—Summer Hall
April 20—Dublin, Ireland—Whelan’s
April 21—Liverpool, U.K.—Arts Club
April 22—Manchester, U.K.—Gorilla
April 23—Brighton, U.K.—Komedia
April 24—London, U.K.—Islington Assembly Hall
April 26—Paris, FR—Petit Bain