Martha Wainwright is beginning again. The beguiling performer and songwriter makes a most welcome return with Love Will Be Reborn, her first new album in five years, released August 20th on Pheromone Records/Cooking Vinyl. It’s her first album since 2016’s ‘Goodnight City’, and the first since 2012’s acclaimed ‘Come Home To Mama’ to feature so much original material. All eleven songs on ‘Love Will Be Reborn’ are written by Martha. She wrote the first song, and what would become the title track, a few years ago in what was a very dark time for her personally.
The title track ‘Love Will Be Reborn’ is out today and hints at the ache of recent years while capturing a sense of optimism for the future. She wraps her wondrous, trademark vocals around the heartbreak to dizzying effect.
Martha began to play the song live before she recorded the album and it became something of an anthem, giving her hope when it was most needed. The song, and the entire album, was produced by Pierre Marchand, best known for his work with Rufus Wainwright on ‘Poses’, the McGarrigle’s on ‘Heartbeats Accelerating’ and much of Sarah McLaughlin’s 90’s catalogue.
“I wrote the song in its entirety within ten or fifteen minutes,” she admits.” I was bawling,”
Recorded in Martha’s Montreal hometown, the album was made in the basement of café Ursa which also served as a studio and at PM Studios. Martha plays guitar and piano and enlisted the help of Toronto musicians Thom Gill (guitars, keys, back-ups) Phil Melanson (drums, percussion) and Josh Cole (bass). Pierre Marchand plays keyboards on ‘Love Will Be Reborn’ plus two other tracks while Morgan Moore plays bass on several songs.
Alongside the album announce, Martha has announced an Autumn UK tour which includes a highly anticipated show at London’s Union Chapel on September 2nd. Full list of dates below. Tickets on sale today except Birmingham which is on sale Friday May 21st from HERE:
September
Thurs 2nd LONDON, Union Chapel
Thurs 23rd FROME, Cheese and Grain
Fri 24th SHEFFIELD, Leadmill
Sat 25th BRIDPORT, Electric Palace
Sun 26th CARDIFF, Tramshed
Tues 28th CAMBRIDGE, Junction
Weds 29th BIRMINGHAM, Town Hall
Thurs 30th BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavillion
October
Fri 1st LIVERPOOL, Philharmonic Hall