New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Following a widely acclaimed 2018 'Liberty,' Lindi
Ortega returns with an entirely instrumental version of the 12-track "cinematic journey" (NPR Weekend Edition) on January 25, 2019, titled 'Liberty: Piano Songbook.'
"I didn't feel like I was quite done with Liberty,"
Ortega says. "I didn't want to write a full sequel, but it needed something else. This seemed like a logical next step to take."
In March 2018,
Ortega released 'Liberty,' a record that draws on the epic work of Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone, who became one of Ortega's musical obsessions during the writing and recording of 'Liberty.' She enlisted Nashville producer Skylar Wilson (Joshua Hedley, Justin Townes Earle, Rayland Baxter) when she discovered their shared passion for Quentin Tarantino movies.
Following the release,
Ortega and Wilson developed the concept for the Liberty: Piano Songbook with multi-instrumentalist Robbie Crowell (Kesha, Midland, Deer Tick), who had previously played with Ortega, recording the solo arrangements at Creative Workshops in Nashville. The fresh versions of these songs transform them, moving away from the spaghetti-Western production while maintaining a cinematic tone that musically complements the lyrical themes of Liberty.
"I created
Liberty for people going through a struggle," says Ortega, who wrote the songs out of her own vulnerabilities, including self-image issues. "I wanted to extend that with the Liberty: Piano Songbook, and I hope it adds an extra soothing element."
While
Ortega does play piano, having another musician record Liberty: Piano Songbook allowed her the critical distance to enjoy her songs as a listener, free of the self-critical ear artists typically bring to their own work.
"I find myself appreciating the melodies," she says. "I can pay attention to them when I'm not having to pay attention to what my voice is like or how I'm singing."
Ortega staged a North American and European headlining tour in 2018, and also toured with
Jason Isbell and Asleep at the Wheel. In August, she released 'Liberty: Parkhill Sessions,' recorded at the Parkhill Studios in Calgary, Alberta. The EP featured stripped-down versions of three
Liberty songs — "The Comeback Kid," "Forever Blue" and "Lovers in Love," recast as a duet with Corb Lund.
In 2019,
Ortega will hit the road in Canada and the US (full list below). For tickets and more information, visit lindiortega.com/tour.
ABOUT 'LIBERTY' (3.30.18):
"a reflection of American culture" - NPR All Songs Considered
"a triumphant curio" - The Guardian
"high-plains drama" - Pitchfork
"deeply endearing" - VICE noisey
"Impossible to ignore" - Rolling Stone Country
'LIBERTY: PIANO SONGBOOK' TRACKLIST:
1. Afraid of the Dark
2. You Ain't Foolin' Me
3. Til My Dyin Day
4. Nothings Impossible
5. The Comeback Kid
6.
Darkness Be Gone
7. Forever Blue
8. In The Clear
9. Pablo
10. Lovers In Love
11. Liberty
12. Gracias a la Vida
LINDI ORTEGA ON TOUR:
Tues., Feb. 5 / Centre in the
Square / Kitchener, ON, Canada
Wed., Feb. 6 / Algonquin Commons Theatre / Ottawa, ON, Canada
Thurs., Feb. 7 / New Vision United Church / Hamilton, ON, Canada
Fri., Feb. 8 / London
Music Hall / London, ON, Canada
Sat., Feb. 9 /
Phoenix Concert Theatre / Toronto, ON, Canada
Sat., Feb. 16 / Hopkins Center for the Arts / Hopkins, MN, US
Fri., Mar. 15 / Neptune Theatre / Seattle, WA, US
Sat., Mar. 16 / Alberta Rose Theatre / Portland, OR, US
Sun., Mar. 17 / John G. She'd
Institute for the Arts / Eugene, OR, US
Mon., Mar. 18 /
Sofia Center for the Arts / Sacramento, CA, US
Tue., Mar. 19 / Freight & Salvage Coffee House / Berkeley, CA, US
Wed., Mar. 20 / HopMonk Tavern / Novato, CA, US
Fri., Apr. 26 - Sun., Apr. 29 / MerleFest 2019 / Wilkesboro, NC, US
