Los Angeles-via-Indiana songwriter/musician Stone Irr debuts “All We Want Anymore” from his forthcoming sophomore album Performance due out September 20, 2019, via Darling Recordings. The melancholy melody combined with a lush, Beatles-esque production style gives way to intricate lyrics about Stone’s love for writing songs. He explains, “This is the song I’ve always wanted to produce — something full and ‘widescreen’ in sound, ” and that the lyrics are, “sort of a love letter to songwriting.”
Stone Irr’s new, second album Performance is equal parts heart-on-the-sleeve Midwestern indie and warm, West Coast pop, reflecting the artist’s Indiana upbringing and a recent move to Los Angeles.
Stone’s growth as an artist, songwriter, and arranger since his 2017 debut album Sinner is obvious on the standout track “All We Want Anymore.” The song features a bright, Beatles-like melodic structure and a cascading finale of strings and horns that pushes Stone’s voice deep into the mix.
That voice, often multi-tracked with layers of harmonies, is Stone Irr’s defining quality. It floats through the record, at times whispered and ethereal and at others gritty and broken, reminiscent of Thom Yorke, Jessica Pratt, Jens Lekman, and Sufjan Stevens.
Lyrically, Stone meditates on “performance” as the relationship between the observer and observed. This metaphor allows him to explore the modern experience of hyper-connected isolation caused by “sharing your life on the screen” (Nose Dive), and the delicate nature of self-knowledge (“I’m more selfish than I thought”, Cheer Up).
The performance also features essential, thoughtful production and beautiful performances from Mark Edlin and Ben Lumsdaine (Kevin Krauter, Major Murphy, Steve Marino) and album art by William Schaff (Okkervil River, Songs: Ohia).
Stone Irr’s new record Performance will be available worldwide September 20th, 2019 on limited-edition yellow vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and cassette via Darling Recordings.
SOURCE: Official Bio
“[Stone’s] tunes are rooted in the classic sounds of ’60s (reminiscent of L.A.’s Avid Dancer), their impact amplified by multi-tracked vocals and swirls of orchestration. The Beatles, Beach Boys and ELO are obvious reference points, along with artists such as XTC, World Party and Sufjan Stevens.”
– Buzzbands LA“Irr channels the Beach Boys and Sufjan Stevens in equal measure, using ethereal, layered harmonies and a sweeping arrangement to tell the story of the dark places the mind can go when experiencing separation from a loved one.”
– American Songwriter“Best taken as one whole, enveloping chronicle, ‘Sinner’ balances smart songwriting with a wholly compelling heart; the kind of record that quietly, over time, might well become something truly special.”
– Gold Flake Paint“Although the peaks of harmonic beauty certainly astonish, they would be far less effective without Irr’s deeply felt delivery…[his] success seems to be equal parts heartfelt reflection and chilling orchestration.”
– NUVO
LINKS:
https://stoneirr.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/stoneirr
https://www.instagram.com/stoneirr
https://twitter.com/stoneirr
