Applewood Road, a folk trio comprised of Emily Barker, Amber Rubarth and Amy Speace, is serendipity at its most pure definition. The three celebrated songwriters will release their self-titled debut on Feb. 12, 2016, on digital and CD formats, as well as on 180-gram vinyl.
In September 2014, the three women met at a café in East Nashville, while Barker was visiting from the UK. By the next morning they had put the finishing touches to their first song, “Applewood Road,” which grew into a 13-song collection that they recorded at Nashville’s Welcome to 1979 Studios. Once recorded, the tapes were assembled at Applewood Road’s London label, Gearbox Records, using their exclusive high-end mastering suite. The lacquers were cut in-house with a Haeco lathe and mastered through vintage analogue outboard.
“I think the album reflects the newness of our relationship. We had barely spent a week together when it was made. The songs were brand new, the arrangements even newer. And the recording subsequently carries this edge and rawness to it, like we’re almost too afraid to breathe in some moments,” Emily Barker said. “But as soon as we sang together for the first time, I remember us all smiling and looking at each other excitedly. Despite being relative strangers to one another, our voices seemed to fit together like family members who’d been singing together for years.”
The entire collection is a lesson in letting simple harmonies tell stories and allowing music to paint pictures for listeners.”Applewood Road,” the song that started it all, began as Rubarth’s dream. When she met with Barker and Speace, the trio decided to keep the dream-like vibe throughout, metaphorically walking through impressionistic landscapes like three new friends setting out on a journey.
Take a look at the video for “Applewood Road”, which showcases the trio’s celestial harmonies contrasted with the simplicity of a resonant upright bass that provides minimal, yet the perfect amount of support for this gorgeous tune:
Applewood Road’s unique take on harmonies will be on display at New York’s famous Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3 (196 Allen St, New York) on Feb. 16th at 8:30 p.m. and at Folk Alliance, during their showcase in the Pershing East/West Ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 7:45 p.m.
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