New York City-based indie-pop singer-songwriter, Aubrey Haddard, announces her second LP, Awake And Talking, out August 16, 2022 and available for pre-order now, via Beverly Martel Records.
Along with the announcement comes the project’s first single and video, “Just A Wall,” where Haddardexamines her own reflection and begins to find self-acceptance. The Line of Best Fit, who premiered the track, says it’s “sublime, emotive and anthemic,” and that “Aubrey Haddard channels Orpheus.“
“Just A Wall,” arrives as the first single from the forthcoming LP, one that sets the tone for what’s in store, and continues Haddard’s trademark concoction of bold, raw emotional songwriting and mesmerizing electric guitar riffs, played by Haddard, that blur and blend lines between avant pop and indie rock. “Now that you’ve gone and shattered the glass,” she sings over a bassy pulse, before boldly asking: “Whose arms do you run to?”
Inspired by Greek mythology, Haddard says of the single, “‘Just A Wall’ is about searching for purpose. I was finding comfort in ancient stories, and started writing from a perspective outside of my own. In this case, the Greek myth of Orpheus, and particularly the Jean Cocteau film adaptation resonated with me, and chasing my muse.”
What inspired this last release?
“Just A Wall” was inspired by the Jean Cocteau film adaptation of Orpheus, and all its film noir glory.
Do you get inspired by other art forms?
Of course. This track is largely inspired by film but recently I’ve been inspired by a lot of literature. Sometimes that additional perspective is all you need.
Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?
This song was probably the most frustrating of the entire record for me to finish. I’m not sure what it was but there was something incomplete about it for me. We’d had a long day of tracking the lead vocals when Matt Peiffer (mixing, engineering) and I decided to take a break. We walked around the corner and had a couple beers while I scratched out the very last lyrics, calling upon my memory of the film to guide me: “once cursed with naked pages now you find in static words align / silence moves faster backwards, love before you think before you sign,” and Matt just sat there, chiming in occasionally but mostly egging me on. A testament to our long lasting friendship that I’m able to just wax poetic across the table from him.
What’s your favorite place or environment to write?
I love to write in a safe place. Particularly, writing upstate in the Hudson Valley where I grew up tends to spark a lot of creativity.
What’s a record that shaped your creativity?
Hounds of Love by Kate Bush had a profound effect on my creative process over the past few years. Her ability to tell stories from the perspective of others is something I truly admire. Apart from that, the record was recorded at her home studio, and the tracks were built off of enhanced demos, much like the ones on my upcoming release Awake And Talking.
Who is an artist or band you look up to today?
Currently, my favorite release is from Cate Le Bon. I have been a fan of hers for years and this latest record poses such a beautiful question to its listener and feels like such an honest display of her artistic vision.
What excites you the most about what you do ?
I think what excites me most is that it will always change, and I can literally create anything I want to. That all comes with the challenge of focusing in on something, seeing a vision or a throughline within it all, but to me that is the most exciting thing about being a songwriter.
