Country-folk artist Spencer Burton has signed to Still Records, the Dine Alone Records imprint launched in 2018 by acclaimed singer-songwriter and performer Dallas Green (City and Colour). “Further” is Burton’s first single on the label, premiering today via American Songwriter along with the official music video. “A composition steeped in feelings of hope and faith,” American Songwriter affirms that “‘Further’ quite boldly presents Burton as a songwriter intent on deeply contemplating the complexities of human nature…[evoking] a tonal and performative lightness that aligns with Burton’s comfort around vast wilderness and an intention to embrace more peaceful living.” The former Attack in Black and Grey Kingdom musician states that “’Further’ was written with the world’s downward spiral in mind. We’ve lost focus. Forgotten what matters. We are the world? But the world isn’t us. I think we need to find out how to become equal parts earth and humanity without causing damage to one another. There’s a balance in there somewhere.”
About the signing, Green shares, “I’ve been a fan of Spencer Burton as a songwriter and more importantly as a human being for what seems like forever. Not only is he one of my oldest musical pals, he’s even a former member of the City and Colour touring family. It’s fitting that he would join the Still Records roster, where I’m able to curate a collection of music that I think deserves to be heard and enjoyed.” “Further” branches into indie and rock aesthetics while staying rooted in Burton’s folky sound. The song climaxes towards the end with back-up vocals soaring over the rocking instrumental. His musical trajectory has been multifaceted, from his punk rock roots as part of Attack in Black to the darker country-inspired sound of his two first solo albums under the name Grey Kingdom. In 2012, Spencer dropped Grey Kingdom in favour of his own name, moving towards a more natural country folk sensibility.
Hailing from Southern Ontario, Burton has toured nationally, and in the United States, with City and Colour, Daniel Romano, Jenn Grant, and more. He has always been strongly connected to the natural world, carrying with him an insatiable wanderlust and deep respect for nature.
After years of living mostly in the city between long touring stints, Burton was feeling drained and uninspired. The constant hum of the city promoted a lifestyle that was entwined with work and networking, an energy that could easily push oneself into the ground. Coupled with the transient existence of a touring musician, he felt the need to plant roots. That pull led him to ‘flee the city’ for a quieter existence in the country. This simpler reality led him even closer to the earth and to the powerful freedom solitude brings. His move to Niagara coincided with his becoming a father, a shift that has permanently shaped his life and his music. His latest release, 2019’s The Mountain Man, is a children’s album created with his family in mind. With his hankering for hankering for travel, farm life and the great beyond, Burton’s upbringings are as sincere as his demeanor.
Photo Credit: Vanessa Heins
