Shannon Lay
SHANNON LAY ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM GEIST, OUT 8 OCTOBER VIA SUB POPSHARES VIDEO FOR TWO LEAD SINGLES ‘AWAKEN AND ALLOW’ AND ‘GEIST’
“Like a living painting, each new texture and colour shifts the mood”
Pitchfork ‘Best New Track’
Watch the video for ‘Awaken and Allow’ and ‘Geist’ here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0et8HzbbDo
On the heels of her previously released single, ‘Rare to Wake‘ which received a Best New Track from Pitchfork, Shannon Lay has today shared the official video (directed by Kai MacKnight) for the gorgeous singles ‘Awaken and Allow’ and ‘Geist’. The singles come alongside the announcement of her forthcoming record Geist, which will be released on 8 October from Sub Pop.
‘Awaken and Allow’, is ancient-feeling and mainly a cappella, its melody channels Shannon’s deep Irish roots, a moment of reflection, before a drop happens — its intensity mirroring the anticipation and anxiety that come with taking the first step to change.
And the title track ‘Geist’ is a love song to possibility, an ode to falling into the arms of what you’re becoming.
Lay says of the singles:
“‘Awaken and Allow’ is a prayer and a promise. A quiet moment to reflect on transformation and what it means to me. California represents my comfort zone and in this song I am urging myself and everyone listening to move out of their comfort zone in order to push ourselves to grow and evolve.‘Geist’ is a testament to the power we all have within. We are so much more amazing than we know ourselves to be. With this video I really wanted to acknowledge some of the incredible people who make shows possible. We filmed at Zebulon in Los Angeles; a venue that has brought so much to the community here and I am so happy they have survived this uncertain time. There is so much going on behind the scenes to create the amazing memories we all have of live music and every part of that took a hit with the pandemic. With all we have been through it has been awe inspiring to see the strength of the human spirit.”
Geist feels like a window – or a mirror – into possibilities of the self and beyond. Lay’s new album is tender intensity, placeless and ethereal. It exists in the chasms of the present — a world populated by shadow selves, spiritual awakenings, déjà vu, and past lives.”Something sleeps inside us”, Lay insists on the opening track, and that’s the guiding philosophy throughout. A winding, golden, delicate thread of intuition that explores the unknown, the possibility. Its title, Geist, the German word for spirit, is rife with an otherworldly presence, the suggestion of another.Lay tracked vocals and guitar at Jarvis Tavinere of Woods’ studio, then sent the songs out to multi-instrumentalists Ben Boye (Bonnie Prince Billy, Ty Segall) in Los Angeles and Devin Hoff (Sharon Van Etten, Cibo Matto) in New York; trusting their musical instincts and intuition. She then sent those recordings to Sofia Arreguin (Wand) and Aaron Otheim (Heatwarmer, Mega Bog) for additional keys, while Ty Segall contributed a guitar solo on ‘Shores’.
Geist is now available for preorder. LP preorders in the UK (available here), and in Europe will receive the limited Loser edition on sun yellow vinyl (while supplies last). Preorder here:
https://megamart.subpop.com/products/shannon-lay_geist
Photo credit: Kai MacKnightHigh-res images can be found here
Geist tracklist:
1. Rare to Wake
2. A Thread to Find
3. Sure
4. Shores
5. Awaken and Allow
6. Geist
7. Untitled
8. Late Night
9. Times Arrow
10. July
Praise for August:
“Both bracing and enticing, as she invites you into her world but doesn’t let you get too comfortable”
8/10 Uncut
“August feels like the product of a wandering mind deliberately slipping though the cracks”
4/5 Mojo
“Warm, softly blurred and emotionally measure songs with a natural strength”
4/5 Metro
“A creative vigour you’ll return to again and again”
4/5 Record Collector
“A short, sweet song cycle that draws you in and won’t let go”
4/5 The Sun
“August is the sound of morning dew glistening on cracked ceiling tiles; like shards of light infiltrating our, at times, bleak surroundings”
86 Secret Meeting
“A sun-soaked adventure through blossoming acoustic guitars and soft, hazy vocals, flourishing into an accentuated climax”
The Line of Best Fit ‘Song of the Day’
“There is an otherworldly force on this album labouring in service of something greater and older than itself”
GoldFlakePaint