Intimate and lushly atmospheric. An album that keeps with the spirit of intrepid creativity and uses an ethereal aesthetic that encompasses indie pop, folk and atmospheric electronica.
Up To The Sky is a nine-song collection of tone poems that evokes nature and addresses themes of intimacy. On the album’s first single, “Whispering Winds,” Alden delicately drapes sultry vocal melodies over crisp and hushed melodic accompaniment that feels like its distantly emanating from a music box. Here, airy harmonies waft in and out adding space and dimension. “I grew up on a farm, and, now living in New York, my body aches to be closer to nature and animals. That’s the feeling I conjure on this song,” Alden reveals. The title track’s quiet fire jazz-flavored dynamics reflect the inner struggle of an artist reconciling career goals with artistic ones. The ebullient reggae lilt of “Palace” finds Alden exploring pop hooks through her signature stylistic wanderlust. Up To The Sky concludes powerfully with the pent-up sensuality of the sultry “1000 Moons” which gently unfolds from moody ambience to roiling climaxes of haunting violins and percussion.
credits
released December 8, 2018
Sarah Alden - violin, voice
Kyle Sanna - guitar, synth, organ, bass guitar, percussion
Rima Fand- voice, violin, viola, piano
Mathias Kunzli - drums, percussion
Chris Tordini-bass
Tim Luntzel-bass
Ben Gallina -bass
Patrick Farrell - accordion
Devin Greenwood - percussion, synth
Raphael McGregor - lap steel
Lily Holgate- viola
Omnibus Enesemble and Central Asian musicians in conjunction with the Playing Together project
Lelah Belle Alden - spoken word
All songs by Sarah Alden except tracks 3,4,5 by Sarah Alden and Kyle Sanna.
Produced by Kyle Sanna and Sarah Alden.
Recorded by Kyle Sanna at Summercamp Studios (Brooklyn, NY). Additional recording by Francis Botero at Studio G (Brooklyn, NY), Shahzad Ismaily [?] at Figure 8 Recording (Brooklyn, NY), and Kyle Sanna at Summercamp West (Pasadena, CA).
Mixed by Kyle Sanna at Summercamp Studios except “Looking Glass” and “Palace of Salty Hearts” mixed by Devin Greenwood at The Honey Jar, Brooklyn, NY
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