Allison Russell: The Returner

I'm lucky to have a special relationship with Allison Russell; although her career is skyrocketing right now, she remembers where she comes from and as an early supporter of her solo work, she's been so kind to always make time for me. I originally did this interview for The Sunday Show (my new show on Indie88 from 10am-1pm highlighting singer-songwriters, roots, blues, soul, and Americana musicians. We covered so much ground, touching on everything from her new single, her amazing experience at the Gorge a few weekends back with Joni Mitchell and friends, pride and black music month, that I felt compelled to share this interview here as well.

The four-time GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist has announced her new album, The Returner. The record will be released on September 8th, 2023 via Fantasy Records. She’s already shared the title-track from the album. The Returner was written and co-produced by Allison along with dim star (her partner JT Nero and Drew Lindsay) and was recorded over Solstice week in December 2022 at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA. It features Russell’s “Rainbow Coalition” band of all-female musicians along with special guest appearances from the legendary Wendy & Lisa, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, and Hozier. 

WATCH / SHARE “THE RETURNER” HERE

BUY / STREAM “THE RETURNER” HERE

Since the release of Outside Child, her debut solo LP two years ago, Russell’s often devastating, deeply moving, cathartic celebration of survivor’s joy has become one of the most acclaimed albums of the past 10 years. Now comes the second chapter in herstory, The Returner, a body-shaking, mind-expanding, soulful expression of liberation, love, and self-respect that serves as a fierce declaration of joy for all survivors that have made it to the other side. Allison, JT, and Drew built The Returner from the bottom up with a rhythm-first, genre-fluid approach. The improvisational energy of great female artists sparked the album’s fierce joy, and provided a wider canvas for Allison’s immense, unlimited talent. In all, the new album doesn’t just deliver on the promise of the last two years, it exceeds all reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations and affirms Allison Russell’s place among music’s most vital artists⎯and The Returner, as one of 2023’s most essential recordings.

Find out more about Allison Russell:

https://allisonrussellmusic.com/

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