Bess Atwell will release new album ‘Light Sleeper’ on May 24th.
The incoming record finds the potent songwriter aligning with illustrious company. Pieced together at Long Pond Studio in upstate New York, new LP ‘Light Sleeper’ was overseen by National musician, and producer du jour, Aaron Dessner.
Out on May 24th, it’s another step forwards from Bess Atwell, a songwriter who seems to pour her heart and soul into every single note she records. In a statement, she says the album is “about the willingness to feel…”
Continuing, she writes…
While writing the album, I was realising that somewhere along the line I had become very afraid of feeling. The record is about facing this realisation and finding the bravery to challenge it. It’s still hard for me to believe that I got to make this record with one of my heroes, but somehow, I got that lucky. Aaron Dessner posted about one of my songs on Instagram at the beginning of 2022.
We got chatting on there and before I knew it, we’d made plans to meet up at All Points East and were discussing making a record together. He told me that ‘Light Sleeper’ is the first album he’s worked on in several years that he didn’t write, which is a huge honour. My approach on ‘Light Sleeper’ was to give up concern with what’s cool and to reconnect with why I make the things I make. I was afraid to really sing on my previous record, having come to believe it wasnt cool or would draw attention to the fact that I am indeed an emotional woman and therefore not to be taken as seriously.
This time, I wanted to really sing, I wanted to discuss my fears and feelings, I wanted to connect, and I wanted to perform like I meant it, because I do. After all, how can I write an album about the willingness to feel and be too afraid to sing like I mean it?
‘Release Myself’ is the first primer from the incoming record. A beautiful piece of gilded indie-folk, it’s accompanied by a beguiling new video, shot with Dylan Friese Greene.
Tune in now.
Photo Credit: David Pentecost
