Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sean Rowe whose thunderous soulful voice Esquire recently proclaimed has the “kind of intensity that pulls you in and keeps you there” has released an appropriately sparse video for his 'Gas Station Rose'.
The track, off Rowe’s forthcoming album New Lore which arrives on April 7th, is a bittersweet road song built around a simple guitar, some well placed piano chords and Rowe’s soulful and powerful voice.
“I wrote the melody while in Las Vegas,” Rowe explains, “I knew there was something to the song because I loved to play it. Lyrically it's about overcoming obstacles and looking for a place to hang your hat. The characters in the story are in it together. It’s not easy but it's worth it. The line, “we are the elders of our minds” means that we control our own destiny, that it's what we believe about ourselves that determines where we go.”
New Lore’s simple yet powerful sound focuses on Rowe’s renowned baritone and evocative songwriting, delivering a collection of affecting stories of desperation and resilience. His voice is beautifully augmented throughout by tasteful arrangements including flourishes of piano and a string section. The album was recorded in the city of Memphis at the historic Sam Phillips Recording studio and produced by Matt Ross-Spang who began working at the legendary studio when he was 16 and recently won a Grammy for his work with Jason Isbell.
Rowe says of the album, “This is a record about loneliness and a longing for connectedness. This yearning for a sense of home. Musically, I think this record is more focused than any before. I’ve become really aware about what it is that I do well, allowing my voice to come through and lyrically grabbing people with the stories.. Those are kind of my superpowers. The instruments on the record never intrude on my voice and words.”
It is a sound that echo’s Rowe’s recent crossover hit 'To Leave Something Behind' a song that resonated with a whole new wider audience after being featured in the recent Ben Affleck film The Accountant.
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For more information about Sean, visit seanrowe.net.
