SAM LLANAS (photo: Deone Jahnke)
Sam Llanas (pronounced yanas), formerly of the BoDeans, will release his new album The Whole Night Thru
November 18th. Determined and confident, gloves are off on this
guitar-driven collection, produced by longtime collaborator Gary Tanin
featuring nine new Llanas originals.
With
a career spanning decades, Llanas is continuing his solo pilgrimage
after 25 years with the band he co-founded. His 12th studio album and
third major solo effort, The Whole Night Thru, blends the roots-rock style that was a signature sound of his former band with Llanas’ own genre-bending musical influences.
Work
on the new record started in 2013 occurring over a few weeks time. With
the majority of the basic tracks recorded, Llanas began completing The Whole Night Thru
at Daystorm Music in Milwaukee with producer-musician Tanin, who had
also worked on the singer-songwriter’s previous solo efforts, A Good Day To Die, 4 A.M. (The Way Home) and 4/5 Live - Vol. I.
Milwaukee musicians Sean Williamson, Matt Turner and Ryan Schiedermayer
contributed guitar, bass, drums & percussion respectively, while
Tanin supplied the string arrangements, piano and mellotron on the new
recording.
Llanas’ new solo opus reveals a new found clarity, “I view The Whole Night Thru
as my first ‘official’ solo record. Though I previously released two
solo studio records, I had always been very careful to not compete with
the BoDeans sound. But now that I’m no longer in that band, the gloves
are off and this is a record that has many elements that fans of my
former band love. If fans are looking for that BoDeans sound, it comes
from my voice and it’s all over this record.” The result is a mix of
Johnny Cash’s fiery fervor and Otis Redding’s nostalgic soulfulness,
without limitation– stylistically or by genre classification.
“I’ve
always been influenced by what I heard. In the ‘60s, when radio was
wide open, you would hear the Beatles and the Stones, Motown Soul and
Atlanta Soul, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding and Southern Soul. You’d
hear Tom Jones, The Carpenters, Glen Campbell and country artists, you’d
hear Johnny Cash and folk. Those songs were all really well-written and
well performed.”
In asking about his departure from the band he co-founded Llanas clarifies, “I
think people have this misconception that I left The BoDeans to pursue a
solo career, but that’s just not the truth. I never wanted the break up
of the BoDeans. It broke my heart.”
Going
solo at this point in his career, however, has allowed Llanas to
combine the experience of a seasoned professional with the passion of an
emerging artist. It is a need for deep self-exploration and expression
that drives him to create his music and continue to perform. As Llanas
admits, “I think the best part about being solo has been that I get to
express myself completely now. I never got to sing half of these songs,
and I always wanted to. I love being able to have that freedom.”
On The Whole Night Thru
Sam Llanas embraces his new found freedom revealing a unique musical
style that is simultaneously invigorating, passionate, inspiring and a
surprising place of calm.
Sam Llanas' The Whole Night Thru will be available on digital and CD formats November 18th via Llanas Music (distributed by OARFIN / E1).
THE WHOLE NIGHT THRU TRACKLIST:
1. Deja Vú
2. Cold n' Clean
3. Everywhere But Here
4. Dangerous Love
5. I'm Still Alive
6. Somethin' Comin'
7. Addicted To The Cure
8. The Best I Can
9. To Where You Go
HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT SAM LLANAS' PREVIOUS SOLO EFFORTS:
“A great record. Sammy’s voice is so much what I love about BoDeans and it has never been showcased any better.” - Rock Critic & Author DAVE MARSH
"Sam Llanas has produced an album of moving, memorable songs, solid musicianship and consistent vision." - MOJO
"Llanas'
new solo album captures the greatness of that band (BoDeans) without
breaking a sweat, but also allows him to find his own place with all
that previous glory intact. In fact, he's never sounded better.... Don't
miss it." - Bill Bentley, THE MORTON REPORT
"A superb effort.” - Bob Reitman, WUWM RADIO
"It would be a cold heart that can’t identify with the times and places Llanas sings about.” - BLOG CRITICS
"... warm, intimate —full of both yearning and contentment." - SHEPHERD EXPRESS
“…. beautifully captures the late night mood where love, truth, loneliness and sympathy walk hand in hand." - MAXIMUM INK
"A gorgeous collection of intimate tracks." - ISTHMUS
"Powerful songwriting talents." - NO DEPRESSION
FOR MORE INFO ON SAM LLANAS:
http://www.samllanas.com
http://www.samllanas.com
No comments:
Post a Comment