As an album title, Lost in Transition seems apt. For Sixpence None the Richer, it's a reminder of the struggles and uncertainty the band endured over the past few years, before ultimately finding their way again.
Since forming in 1993, the Nashville-based band (started by Slocum and singer Leigh Nash), has released four albums, scored several hit singles ( "Kiss Me," "There She Goes," "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Breathe Your Name"), appeared on seemingly a million soundtracks, landed a platinum record and even earned a few Grammy nominations. But the band amicably parted ways in 2004, shortly after releasing their last full-length record, Divine Discontent.
The "transition" had begun. After a few outside ventures and solo albums, the band reunited five years ago (with Rob Mitchell and Justin Cary). "When we parted it didn't take me long to miss the band," Nash admits. "The music Matt and I make together makes me really happy. So it was great to get back together."
The group started slowly, releasing an EP and a Christmas album while touring a bit here and there. But putting together a new, original full-length record was never necessarily in the cards. For one, the band had to wade through various label and business issues; fortunately, they were able to find a newfound musical freedom by partnering with the independent music distributor The Orchard. "I kind of wished we had done this all along," admits Nash. "It gives a lot of independence. I really respect bands like Over the Rhine that release records, tour and find an audience pretty much doing everything on their own."
Long in the making, Lost in Transition finds Slocum and Nash sharing the songwriting duties (along with musician Stephen Wilson, Nash's husband). "It's been great to see Leigh grow as a songwriter-her writing is now on par with her singing, which is saying a lot," says Slocum. Transition also features a stripped down sound; the end result is a gorgeous mix of pop hooks, piano, acoustic guitars, a bit of country and a newfound and beautiful simplicity to the songs.
"We really just wanted to feature the song and the voice, and let things breathe a little more," says Slocum. "We're not mucking it by the throwing the kitchen sink at it and putting in a million instruments because we could." [One exception: the horn-fueled, undeniably funky album opener "My Dear Machine," which also acts as somewhat of a lyrical left turn. It's one man's ode to his old car.] Both Slocum and Nash credit producer Jim Scott (Wilco, Crowded House) for the "less is more" attitude.
http://www.sixpencehq.com/
It's called ‘chemistry', an elusive quality that can be part history, part mystery and all intangible until the moment that you feel it. It's a meant-to-be melding of the emotional and creative that can happen between songwriters, performers, best friends or life partners. For Josh and Nicole Johnson - the duo Elenowen - that connection is all of the above and much more. And on their self-titled EP, the chemistry they share is as rare - and real - as it gets. Though emerging from the same Nashville-based Americana-folk scene as The Civil Wars, Elenowen deliver a sonic glow all their own. Amidst haunting harmonies and elegiac lyrics, their songs flow with an undercurrent of yearning, surrender and unexpectedly sharp edges. The starkly candid debut album Pulling Back The Veil chronicled their first year of marriage with songs that were subsequently showcased on TV shows like ‘One Tree Hill' and MTV's ‘World Of Jenks'. Josh and Nicole began filming impromptu performances in their small basement apartment, with the resulting clips - called ‘The Basement Sessions' - quickly garnering a following on YouTube and the No Depression website. In 2011, Elenowen made their national television debut on the top-rated premiere season of NBC's ‘The Voice'. But it's the five tracks on their new EP that now mean the most to the couple and convey what's most real to audiences.
http://elenowen.com/
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Advance tickets are also available via phone at 703.255.1566
Buy Tickets
Tickets are also available via phone at 703.255.1566
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