New York, NY (Top40 Charts) "Passenger" is a cinematic merging of poetry & blues in the vein of Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith & Laurie Anderson. Featuring NYC-based Billboard-charting poet/producer Rachael Sage & Grammy nominated cellist Dave Eggar, this track from POETICA's self-titled debut brings acclaimed UK blues harmonica player Will Wilde, Spooky
Ghost guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie) & Jack Petruzzelli (Rufus Wainwright) together to weave mesmerizing musical atmospheres around Sage's sensual spoken-word delivery.
A slow-paced exploration of the sensuality of space which separates two people, the track takes on a seductive tone, making use of sparse instrumentation and occasional flourishes from Dave Eggar on cello. Featuring Rachael Sage's wordsmith talents, the piece speaks about being "all head and soul/While you're all hands and heart," in a flirtatious and confident style.
For a collaborative project which "at its core is about bridging distance with artful communication," (frontwoman Rachael Sage) the track's emphasis on both connection and distance was perfectly tackled by this fantastically talented group of musicians.
Speak of the track, Sage says, " 'Passenger' was one of the most fun tracks to produce on "
Poetica", because I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of my very favorite musicians! The featured harmonica player is the effortlessly soulful UK-based Will Wilde, who I met many years ago on tour in Brighton, England. I've been jamming with him at all my live gigs there through the years, whenever I'd blow through, and it's been a highlight of my UK travels, sharing those improvisatory moments onstage. In addition to Will, my dear friend Dave Eggar adds his signature cello flourishes, and the incredible guitarists Gerry Leonard (David Bowie) and Jack Petruzelli (Patti Smith) added a vibey ambiance that really helps underscore the sensuality of the poem."
Triumphantly unexpected and ever-surprising, 'Passenger' keeps you guessing the whole way through its run time. Sibilance and susurrations characterise the text, keeping the sounds soft and sumptuous - only to be punctuated time and again with well-placed percussive punches.
Sage again, "I met the great bluesman John Lee Hooker in my college years and we became very good friends. I kinda wish he could hear this piece...I think he would be pleasantly surprised, and also satisfied to hear his eventual influence on me, however unlikely."
John Lee Hooker meets Patti Smith meets
Leonard Cohen meets Laurie Anderson? Yes please.
