WATCH AND SHARE “AFTER HOURS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “AFTER HOURS” HERE
LET ME SLEEP OUT JUNE 4, 2021 VIA GHOST PEPPER RECORDS
PRE-ORDER LET ME SLEEP HERE
Photo Credit David Clark : // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, Alyson McNamara is sharing another new track from her upcoming third album, Let Me Sleep, out June 4, 2021 via Ghost Pepper Records. “After Hours” is “all about growth, but when I wrote it I didn’t know that,” says McNamara. “It’s about a time in my life when I was going to lots of after hours parties, meeting people that I wasn’t deeply connecting with, and ultimately, trying to find myself amidst all the flashing lights and darkness. I was navigating my way through my first heartbreak. To me, ‘After Hours’ now serves as a reminder of where I was at that time and where I am now.”
On the video for “After Hours”, McNamara says, “I think that the idea of making a caterpillar video might have come from my subconscious. I didn’t completely understand why it was important to me, but I was determined to see it through. As all of the scenes fell into place, I realized that it was a metaphor for my own metamorphosis. I sewed my costume by hand for this video, and that in itself was a huge learning/growing experience for me.”
WATCH AND SHARE “AFTER HOURS” HERE
BUY / STREAM “AFTER HOURS” HERE
“After Hours” Single Artwork // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
MORE ABOUT LET ME SLEEP
Produced, mixed, and engineered by Daniel McNamara and recorded in a whirlwind week at Taurus Recording in Toronto, Let Me Sleep sees Alyson moving from a four piece band to a trio with her longtime collaborators, Daniel McNamara (bass) and Kevin Richards (drums). The stripped-down sound overhauled the direction of Let Me Sleep. “Through performing as a trio, I realized how much space there was left for my vocals,” Alyson explains. “I was always curious about where the middle ground was between having that full-band sound and maintaining the intimate feeling of watching a singer songwriter.”
Alyson wrote Let Me Sleep in various locations including The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and a sun-soaked apartment in Toronto. No matter the place, Alyson was alone during her writing sessions. “My favourite ideas always seem to arrive freely when the house is empty.” she says.
WATCH AND SHARE “SHUTTING DOWN” HERE
BUY / STREAM “SHUTTING DOWN” HERE
This solitude culminates in an album full of thoughtful musings on love and regrets, and reminds listeners to be patient with both themselves and others. “That’s Today” finds Alyson talking through her mistakes with her shadow but on the interlude “Worry Not”, Alyson is alone playing the piano and, showing off her incredible vocal control, assures us: ‘worry not for me’.
“I think music and songwriting is so important for me because I have a very jovial personality in social settings, but my music is so pensive and calm - it’s a real part of my true self,” Alyson says. “Sharing my songs is an opportunity to be seen fully.”
Despite the solitariness behind the lyrics, there’s a heartening communal feeling to Let Me Sleep. On “Won’t Be Sold”, Alyson touches on the heart of this feeling when she assures listeners, ‘You are not the only one who’s feeling lonely.’
“I want people to see me when they listen to Let Me Sleep,” says Alyson. “But I also want people to be able to listen to the record and see themselves.”
PRE-ORDER LET ME SLEEP HERE
Alyson has toured across Canada with JUNO Award-winning band Said The Whale accompanying on-going collaborator Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club). She has recorded and performed with Canadian supergroup Anyway Gang and has opened for artists such as Sloan and Gregg Allman. She has accompanied and shared the stage with Canadian trail blazers Catherine Maclellan, Kaia Kater, and Sarah MacDougall. Alyson has appeared on Paste Magazine NYC, BTR Live Studio and CBC First Play Live and has recorded with acclaimed producers Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck), Gus van Go (Sam Roberts, Whitehorse) and Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, U.S Girls).
