Acclaimed singer, songwriter and performer Kathleen Edwards returns with her highly anticipated new album, Billionaire, August 22 on Dualtone Records (pre-order). Evoking her debut, Failer, the new 10-song album is full of Edwards’ trademark lyrical sharpness and unflinching observations and was produced by Jason Isbell andGena Johnson. In advance of the release, two new songs—“Save Your Soul” and “Say Goodbye, Tell No One”—are out today.
Of the album, Edwards shares, “I decided to call the record Billionairebecause the word is used in such a caustic way these days. But we should all want to be billionaires in life, to be rich in experience, friendship, purpose, and the pursuit of the things that bring us joy.”
In celebration of the album, Edwards will embark on a series of performances this summer and fall including newly confirmed dates at New York’s Bowery Ballroom on September 16 and a return to XPoNential Music Festival on September 20 among many others. See below for complete tour details.
In addition to Edwards (vocals, acoustic guitar), Isbell (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keys, synth, background vocals) and Johnson (engineer, piano, background vocals), the album includes Anna Butterss (bass), Annie Clements (bass), Chad Gamble (drums and percussion), Jen Gunderman (piano, celeste, Hammond B3 organ, Wurlizter) and Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer (background vocals).
Of working with Edwards, Johnson shares, “Kathleen is as funny as she is deep. She loves to rock, have fun and nerd out on guitar tones, which both Jason and I love to do as well. It was important to us to make sure we were featuring all the sides of her in the production of this album from tracking to final mix. She totally thrived on the energy of the full band when we were in the studio and was also open to an idea I had for the song, ‘Little Pink Door.’ That song ended up being a live one-take performance of Kathleen singing while playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by Jason on electric guitar and Jen Gunderman on piano. Both Jason and Jen were right there with her every single breath, only playing when it felt right. I remember when the take finished, Jason said he wouldn’t change a thing about it, and I couldn’t have agreed more. It’s in those moments when you know that something truly special is being made. I am so looking forward to attending a live show and experiencing both the energy and intimacy these songs and stories will bring to the audience.”
Celebrated as one of the forebears of modern alt-country and Americana music, Edwards is beloved by fans and fellow musicians, and praised by The New York Times for her, “droll, observant and unsparing tone that is all her own. In her best lines, Edwards has the conversational vernacular and emotional eloquence of a great short-story writer.”
Since debuting in 2003, Edwards has released five albums, including 2020’s Total Freedom—her first after stepping away from music for almost a decade. Released to overwhelming acclaim with pieces at The New Yorker, The New York Times, Rolling Stone and more, Pitchforkcalled it, “a creative breakthrough, written solely for the thrill of discovery,” while Rolling Stone declared it as, “devastatingly great.” Most recently, Edwards released a covers EP featuring special guests Isbell, Bahamas and Daniel Tashian and including renditions of Isbell’s “Traveling Alone,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Human Touch,” The Flaming Lips’ “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate,” Tom Petty’s “Crawling Back To You” and more. She has been nominated for multiple JUNO and Americana Awards and, in 2012, was awarded the SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
