New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The duo, Gracie and Rachel, has dropped their stunningly dynamic sophomore record, Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong, via Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records. The follow-up to their debut is more than just a gorgeously constructed next chapter, it's a cathartic album with songs that NPR
Music calls "great advice." Keyboardist-vocalist, Gracie Coates, and violinist, Rachel Ruggles, confront the deeply-rooted behaviors, self-imposed boundaries, and insecurities of their yesteryears with sweeping grace, enchanting mysticism and poetic songwriting.
"This body of work was manifested in the over-involved working-living environment of our Brooklyn loft, and bringing it to life helped us navigate our differing ways of communicating both with ourselves and with one another, and subsequently with the world around us. To have this music now out in the world, especially during this deeply polarizing time, we feel humbled to share our story about finding connection and strength in our weaknesses amidst challenging times." - Gracie and Rachel
The journey from high school students assigned to work together to critically beloved musical enchantresses has been defined by a palpable chemistry between its two creators: Gracie bringing an unconventional creativity to her songwriting that juxtaposes with the disciplined classical mindset of Rachel. Balancing starkness with ornateness, dark with light, freedom with fear, and universality with specificity, Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong is a collection forged in the fires of personal growth that rings with a triumphant message of empowerment. Over the ten tracks, strings swirl and pop with pizzicato accents, vocals weave together with angelic harmony, and ethereal melodies carry lyrics which read like a poetic exorcism.
Wielding your flaws as a tool for growth is at the heart of the record, explored in-depth on tracks like "Ideas" (which NPR spotlighted on All Songs Considered and Atwood Magazine called an "empowering reflection on deconstruction as a means of progress"), "
Sidelines" (an ode to taking ownership of and finding pride in your own thoughts), "Undo" (a Socratic reflection on the power of knowing nothing), "
Speak" (a confessional anthem about trying to express devotion despite being able to always speak that devotion out loud), "
Underneath" (which led Flaunt to call the pair a "study in magnetism and contrast") and "
Trust" (partially inspired by the #MeToo movement, focused on the process of learning to trust yourself, speak your own language, believe in your instincts, and write your own narrative).
"It is such a pleasure to have Gracie and Rachel release their new album on Righteous Babe. We've done a lot of touring together over the past few years and shared many memorable moments on stage and off," said Ani DiFranco about today's release. "Their ethereal and provocative songs are a cinematic addition to the RBR cadre of feminist artist-activists. They sing softly but carry a big stick."
Watch the duo bring the magic of Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong to life via performances with SPIN and TIDAL. Gracie and Rachel will also perform an album release performance via Facebook Live on
September 22 at 9PM ET.
'Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong' Track Listing
"
Trust"
"
Sidelines"
"
Underneath"
"
Stranger"
"
Speak"
"Ideas"
"Floating"
"
Listen"
"Undo"
"Around"
