It’s the big day! My new album, “Witness” releases today! Stellar reviews are already coming in, and I have a few posted below!
I have so many folks to thank who participated and lent their talents to this album!
Number 1 is Brandon Turner, my partner, who produced and played several instruments on every song (Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Lap Steel, Resonator Guitar, Bass, Upright Bass, Piano, Organ, Banjo, Harmony Vocals) he was the first person to hear every song and helped me arrange them. There would be no album without him.
All of the wonderful musicians who brought their gifts into the studio: Scott Stinson – drums and percussion, Jeff Hook – drums and percussion, Don McGraw – bass, Ted Lucktenberg – mandolin and cello, David Rice – fiddle, Fayssoux McLean – harmony vocals and Ian Guthrie – harmony vocals.
We recorded with 3 great engineers: Buddy Strong at Southeastern in Campobello, and Brad Phillips and Ian Guthrie at Studio 101 in Woodruff. They are all amazing at getting wonderful sounds, editing and mixing. Not to mention being great gentlemen, easy to work with and top notch pros.
The album is visualized by the stunning cover image and photography by Sandlin Gaither. His work is eye-catching, evocative and cinematic. I couldn’t have asked for a better cover. And the brilliant design by Stephen Long, which frames these images perfectly, and wraps all my words and pictures in a classy and elegant package.
Huge Thanks to Thomas Valle-Guatemala, Madmantics Media, who has been a part of my life longer than anyone else listed here. Thomas designs my website and provides valuable support and advice. I really don’t know what I would have ever done without him all these years and I am so grateful to you, Thomas!
Big shout out to Adam Dawson, who is doing bang up work promoting this thing (as you can see from the great reviews coming in!)
Where can you hear it or get a copy?
Bandcamp: https://angelaeasterling.bandcamp.com/album/witness
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/witness/1648862059
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2CCGHPWxxZGABNuhEYU51o
Meanwhile check out some of the fabulous reviews coming in so far:
“Angela Easterling’s new release is a masterful collection of highly personal songs, revealing her varied life and giving us a wonderful personal insight. In addition, she and her husband and longterm musical companion, Brandon Turner, give us some skilful musicianship and a selection of first-class tunes.You can tell why the likes of Jim Lauderdale are fans – Easterling has a poet’s eye for lyrics and story-telling and a redoubtable musical style, which makes this album something special.”
Paul Russell, AmericanaUK
“Singer-songwriter Angela Easterling and her musical and life partner, Brandon Turner, deliver a rich album of eleven originals that run the gamut from parenthood to gun violence to gender identity, and by covering Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee,” immigration issues as well.This deeply personal album reveals a stunning array of emotions. Kudos to Easterling and Turner for varying the music to make even the starkest lyrics go down easy. Easterling sings with honest conviction and the album bears all the necessary ingredients – solid songwriting, top-notch musicianship, and lyrical touches that range from direct to symbolic.” Jim Hynes, Glide Magazine
“Just when I was having a ‘blip’ reviews wise recently, along comes Angela Easterling (AND Brandon Turner) who have re-awakened my love of a well written, constructed and arranged song that not just ‘tells a story’ but touches the heart in many different ways.”
Rocking Magpie
“Angela avoids country-pop trappings & relies on the roots of country music in “Witness” Her voice has a country-commercial appeal of 60s Americana singers who ventured into the pop charts with success. Her songs are composed with a flair for mainstream consumption without carrying along the baggage of any flavor-of-the-month tunes often issued by country radio regulars.” Americana Highways
Radio Stations that have been playing so far (thank you!)
WEFT Champaign IL WVTF Roanoke VA WIOX Catskills NY WVBR Ithaca NY WFDU / Folk Music Notebook NJ (New York NY)WRKF Baton Rouge LA KMUZ Salem OR WHUP Hillsborough NC Radio Nowhere SC / Folk Music Notebook WPPM Philadelphia PA WTJU Charlottesville VA KDVS Davis CA WRIR Richmond VA WERA ARlington VA WERU Portland ME KSKO AK WHUS Hartford CT KUBU Sacramento CA WMPG Portland ME WOMR CApe Cod MA / Boston MA KGLP Gallup NM WFHB Bloomington IN WZBC Boston MA Ocean Beach Radio OR (online) Americana Boogie OR (online) KRCB San Francisco CA WCNI Hartford CT KHNS Haines AK WMNF Tampa FL WNCW Spindale NC COMA Radio TME Spain
It has been 7 years since I had a new album to share with you! What a busy time, with 2 new babies, lots of shows, and a pandemic in there! I hope that you enjoy the new music and I can’t wait to see you at a show, either this year or maybe in 2023. Thank you for your continued support of my music!
Happy Release Day!
Angela Easterling