Heather Pierson – Back To The Light
Heather Pierson – Back To The Light
Format: CD – Digital
Label: Independent
Release: 2024
Release date: September 27, 2024
In the summer of 2023, Heather Pierson and her trio (with Shawn Nadeau on bass and Craig Bryan on drums) carved out two days in their schedules to record together at Acadia Recording Company in Portland, ME
They went in with a handful of Heather’s originals that they’d been carefully honing in their post-pandemic live shows, and the goal was simple – place a bunch of mics, feel into the songs, the room – the Steinway Model A, the vintage Slingerland kit – and into one another. They recorded everything live, and after just a day and a half and minimal overdubs of Hammond B3 and backing vocals, they had lightning in a jar – seven fresh songs.
And then? Heather shelved it all, wanting to forget how it all sounded. She continued to tour the US with partner/bassist Shawn while juggling other creative projects, and in early 2024, she listened to those seven songs with fresh ears, then added one more song – ‘Gutter’ – recorded on Valentine’s Day 2024.
The result is ‘Back To The Light,’ Heather’s most vibrant release yet. Pulsating throughout with the grooves of New Orleans, the beauty of Appalachia, and Sunday-go-to-meeting celebration, ‘Back To The Light’ is a short record that packs a lot of punch. Each song is tastier and more joyful than the last, with masterful chops dancing atop Heather’s smart, playful songwriting and bell tone vocals.
‘Everybody’s tryin’ to be free of the ghosts that haunt them at night,’ she sings in the title track, and what better way to nourish and embolden oneself in the darkness than with the medicine of song?
Website: https://heatherpierson.com/home
Tracks:
01. Dusty House Blues 3:00
02. Up Here In The Mountains 4:06
03. Feel Something 3:08
04. Nails Trimmed and Clean 2:26
05. Perspective 1:51
06. Back To The Light 4:23
07. Joy Came Back 4:24
08. Gutter 2:13
Heather Pierson – lead vocals, piano, Wurlitzer, B3, tenor banjo
Shawn Nadeau – bass, harmony vocals
Craig Bryan – drums, percussion, harmony vocals
Leah Boyd – harmony vocals on ‘Back To The Light’ and ‘Joy Came Back’