The latest from Laura Veirs continues her move away from a traditional singer-songwriter or folk structure and more towards her punk roots. "Seaside Haiku" is definitely not a punk song, but it's even less of a folk song. Veirs has constructed a dark alt-rocker on this one, complete with fuzzed out guitars. The guitar on this one is reminding me a lot of Throwing Muses mixed with Courtney Barnett. It's oddly hypnotic and is somehow uplifting despite its darkness. This one just feels cathartic.
"Seaside Haiku" comes from a series of haikus Laura Veirs wrote on a solo winter vacation in Seaside, OR. She says of the new song:
“This song captures the feeling I had of my emerging independence as a solo woman in the world during that wintry time. It’s been a learning curve for me to figure out how not to give too much of myself in relationships at the expense of my own needs. This is a song to remind myself of that, and also to remind all women who are socialized to give so much to others. It’s a call to hold onto our strength and power and to share it reciprocally instead of blithely giving it away.”
You can watch the video for "Seaside Haiku" below. Found Light is due out July 8 on Raven Marching Band Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Laura Veirs, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
6/09 - Norwich, UK @ Norwich Arts Centre
6/10 - Nottingham, UK @ Bodega
6/11 - Cambridge, UK @ Storey’s Field Centre
6/12 - Birmingham, UK @ Hare & Hounds
6/14 - Gosforth, UK @ Civic Theatre
6/15 - Edinburgh, UK @ Artiscience Library
6/16 - Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
6/18 - Leeds, UK @ Belgrave Music Hall
6/19 - Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute
6/21 - Cardiff, UK @ Pentyrch
6/22 - Bristol, UK @ Thekla
6/23 - Exeter, UK @ Exeter Phoenix
6/25 - Glastonbury, UK - Glastonbury Festival
6/27 - Southsea, UK @ Wedgewood Rooms
6/28 - Guildford, UK @ Boileroom
6/29 - Brighton, UK @ Komedia
6/30 - London, UK @ Union Chapel
7/16 - Chicago, IL @ Old Town School of Music / Szold Hall
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