Canada is often overlooked when experts consider the singer-songwriters of the world, but it seems that at least one New York artist has taken inspiration from at least two Ontario artists – namely Mary Margaret O’Hara and Martha Wainwright. The former is a fact and the second is a deep suspicion or at least a testament to the solid and alluring songwriting style and performance of Jessie Kilguss, the artist whose music are thrilled to share with you today.
Wednesday brings the release of her new single ‘Sleepwalking Heart’ and we present the new video for this song, directed and produced by Alex Dar. Kilguss explains:
“This song was inspired by Mira Jacobs’ book ‘The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing’. I wrote it in 2018 to perform in a show with the Bushwick Book Club, a performance series where songwriters all read the same book, write a song about it and perform the song at a public show. Although this song is about a specific book, I wanted it to be a bit broader and more mysterious. We recorded it in LA in April 2021, just as it was kind of ok to be inside with people outside your bubble. I was so grateful to be making music with other people again. Because this hadn’t been allowed for a couple years, the whole recording experience was that much more meaningful and charged for me.”
Not long ago, Kilguss released the single ‘Great White Shark’, which also received some attention in relation to the fact that International Shark Week just recently passed. What lies ahead of Kilguss in the short term is no secret – she will be releasing her new album ‘What Do Whales Dream About at Night?’, which comes a full four years after her latest long-player ‘The Fastness’. She will also be playing some live shows at various venues in the New York area, so if you’re local to that region, check that out.
Co-produced by Adam Lasus (Yo La Tengo, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Helium) along with Kilguss and her band members (Brian Griffin, Naren Rauch, Whynot Jansveld), Lasus engineered the recordings, which were mixed and mastered byCharlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie).
Also featuring on this album are drummerBrian Griffin (Patti Smith, Brandi Carlisle, Lana Del Rey), bass guitarist Whynot Jansveld (The Wallflowers, Butch Walker, Sara Bareilles), award-winning composer-producer Naren Rauch on guitar, as well as Nathan Schram (Bjork, David Crosby, David Byrne, The Attacca Quartet), with whom Kilguss runs the non-profit organization Musicambia.
Kilguss is a former actress, whose acting highlights include the film adaptation of Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’, starring Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder, and the UK production of ‘As You Like It’, directed by Royal Shakespeare Company founder Sir Peter Hall. She made the switch to songwriting after working with one of her musical heros Marianne Faithfull in the London and Sydney productions of ‘The Black Rider’, a musical written by Tom Waits and William Burroughs, which was directed by Robert Wilson and also featured Mary Margaret O’Hara.
In addition to writing and performing her own music, Kilguss also sings with Gramercy Arms, Jim Andralis and the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel, having previously performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, supporting The Waterboys during their European tour.
On August 17, ‘Sleepwalking Heart’ will be released across digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Pre-save it at https://found.ee/bviPu. The full album ‘What Do Whales Dream About at Night?’ is out on September 23 and can be pre-ordered at https://jessiekilguss.bandcamp.com/album/what-do-whales-dream-about-at-night. That same evening (starting at 8:30 pm), Kilguss will present her album live with a release show at Rockwood 3 in New York.
CREDITS
All songs written by Jessie Kilguss
Jessie Kilguss – vocals and harmonium
Brian Griffin- drums, percussion, keys & backing vocals
Whynot Jansveld – bass, keys & backing vocals
Naren Rauch – guitar, piano & backing vocals
Nathan Schram – strings
Recorded at Studio Red in North Hollywood in April 2021
Produced by Brian Griffin, Whynot Jansveld, Naren Rauch, Jessie Kilguss & Adam Lasus.
Engineered by Adam Lasus at Studio Red in North Hollywood
Mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland
Artist photography by Shervin Lainez
LIVE SHOWS
Aug. 23 – Pete’s Candy Store with Gary Burton and the Highland Shatners
Sept. 23 – Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 – Album release show
Follow, support and fan out over Jessie Kilguss
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