Seasoned young troubadour Sam Brittain has today announced his new album Signal Lights set for release on June 3, alongside the anthemic first offering Stab In The Dark (available May 13). To celebrate the release, Brittain will be hitting the road on a national tour in June, kicking off in Adelaide at The Gov on June 4 and moving through to Brighton Up Bar (Sydney) on June 8, The Ellington (Perth) on June 15, The Toff (Melbourne) on June 23 and finishing up at The Milk Factory (Bris) on June 26.
Nestled comfortably between folk and country, Signal Lights is an intricate release, revealing subtle new textures and multiple perspectives upon each listen. Recorded and mixed at Mixmaster’s Studio by owner Mick Wordley, the album boasts luxurious string arrangements that swoop beneath Brittain’s raw, emotive vocal, and rest flawlessly on a soft bed of drums, bass and guitar. As the music swells and recedes, Brittain explores time, and watching it pass as a touring musician. He enthuses, “The opportunity to travel, busk streets, shopping malls, markets and play festivals in different cities all over the world and to connect with people though music is something I don’t take for granted. The songs explore the time used up, the time remaining, and making sure you take the time to enjoy the simple things in life.”
The first single off the release, Stab In The Dark, arcs dramatically from a sparse, delicate intro, to a sprawling, rallying cadence, and inspires a feeling of hope in spite of circumstance. The lyrics summarise a coming of age, prompted by travel, grief, and ‘a lethal dose of reality’, as Brittain describes, ‘I was beginning to see the real sacrifices that have to be made as a touring artist in order to be successful. The loved ones you leave behind. Losing a dear friend of mine a few months prior to a stroke was a shotgun blast to the heart… It was a blatant reminder that none of us are invincible and you never know when your time is up.’
The accompanying video, directed by Kieran Ellis-Jones of Crystal Arrow Films, reflects the introspective nature of Stab In The Dark. It portrays the performers as silhouettes, and the main subject caught alone in a barren space. Through the subtle use of these shadowy characters, the clip encourages the viewer to look inwards, to self-evaluate, as Brittain says, ‘It’s easy to blame external influences for the things that go wrong in life. It’s a much harder task to face the things you’re doing to yourself.’
With extensive gigging experience from around the world tucked firmly under his belt including notable supports with Passenger and Matt Corby, Brittain will embark on his national tour in June to support Signal Lights. Excited to be hitting the road, Brittain gives fans a taste of what to expect from his live shows, “This time around, with the new record, we have tried really hard to have a few more feel-good grooves… I don’t see why a sad story can’t have a great backbeat! I am really excited for the big shows with the band, and the smaller, more intimate acoustic shows alike.”
https://youtu.be/oZNiH67MgMY
Stab In The Dark will be released May 13 and Signal Lights will be available June 3, both available for pre-order now.
SAM BRITTAIN ‘SIGNAL LIGHTS’ TOUR DATES
SAT 4TH JUN | THE GOVERNOR HINDMARSH, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
Tickets:: http://thegov.oztix.com.au/?eventId=62242
WED 8TH JUN | BRIGHTON UP BAR, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets:: http://brightonupbar.com.au/whats-on/events/8-jun-16-sam-brittain-album-launch-brighton-up-bar/
THURS 15TH JUN | THE ELLINGTON, PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets:: http://www.ellingtonjazz.com.au/event/sam-brittain/
THURS 23 JUN | THE TOFF IN TOWN, MELB VIC | 18+
Tickets:: http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/sam-brittain-signal-lights-album-launch-with-special-guestsolivers-army-and-a/86127
SUN 26TH JUN | THE MILK FACTORY, BRIS QLD | 18+
Tickets:: http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/sam-brittain-signal-lights-tour/86133