LET YOU DOWN out Tuesday at noon EST • directed by @bamiam
@sparkleplentyrecords
LET YOU DOWN
video out Tuesday
directed by @bamiam
@sparkleplentyrecords
This is a repost from Bird Streets but I just wanted add this little note…
“Let You Down is one of my favorite songs on Lagoon. Zach and Oscar did an incredible job and I have to admit I am so envious to have not been able to get a note on. This song is pure AM early 70’s pop with a lovely nod to @thebeatles
Well done gentleman, I am so pleased to be a part of this album and sit beside you all. Well done John as usual for a ridiculously great song. Lyric and Melody!!!!” Love ML
This is a @zachjonesmusic and @albis_music appreciation post! I first saw Zach and Oscar backing up another artist at Rockwood Music Hall on the Lower East Side, and immediately wanted to start a band with them. It took a few years but we finally got to do that in January 2020, when these amazing players and beautiful humans agreed to produce a few songs for my “stockpile” at @studiogbrooklyn. Two LAGOON songs came out of that first collaboration, including LET YOU DOWN. We rehearsed the tunes for an afternoon before tracking, so the vibe in the studio was incredibly open and easy. As much as I enjoy sticking my nose into things, I equally loved sitting back and just watching the dudes work. Here’s some film of the song coming together. Lots of Oscar here as he played bass, guitars, and all of the keyboard instruments on this track. Sadly there is no footage of the “Stack of Zachs” being recorded for the song’s chorus, but believe me when I tell you he nailed that sh*t in like 10 minutes. Thank you Zach and Oscar for everything you brought to LAGOON!! More on this song soon. #newalbum #brooklyn #recording #production #letyoudown
LAGOON, the second album from Brooklyn artist @birdstreets , is in stores now. 12 new songs about separation, rumination, regret, and recurrence. Produced by Pat Sansone (Wilco), Michael Lockwood (Aimee Mann), Zach Jones (Sting) and Oscar Albis Rodriguez (A Great Big World). Featuring the singles SLEEPER AGENT (with Ed Harcourt), MACHINE, and UNKIND. Brought to you by @sparkleplentyrecords and @dekoentertainment @jeffkellermanagement
The SLEEPER AGENT music video is now live. Watch at youtube.com/birdstreets. @birdstreets @sparkleplentyrecords @dekoentertainment @jeffkellermanagement
Monday.
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#sleeperagent #musicvideo #premiere #rearviewmirror #spookyseason #chevelle
Bird Streets
Sparkle Plenty Records
Deko Entertainment
Jeff Keller Management LLC
As you may know, @edharcourt had a big hand in shaping the sound of Sleeper Agent. Thanks to modern technology, the song’s producer (and @sparkleplentyrecords honcho) @michaellockwoodthemusician was able to fly all of Ed’s parts into the mix without either of them leaving the comfort of their homes–which is to say, Ed and I never actually played the song together. Last week, we joined up at the Wolf Cabin, deep in the heart of scenic Oxfordshire UK, to get that sorted. Here’s a clip from that afternoon; full video is at the link in @birdstreets profile.
I love it when a plan comes together. A dynamic duo to be certain. Big ups to @edharcourt and @birdstreets for taking the time out to give us this look inside. My Brothers!
@sparkleplenty
@dekoentertainment
@jeffkellermangement
Repost from @birdstreets
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[sound on] coming soon… #sleeperagent #spookyseason #rowboat
@sparkleplentyrecords @dekoentertainment
Bird Streets SLEEPER AGENT is out now. It’s primarily about impostor syndrome and the fear and inertia it causes within. Makes you feel like bad actor wearing a crappy wig.
This is the song that made Lagoon feel like a real album. Early in the 2020 lockdown, many songwriters and musicians expressed excitement about their newfound creative time. As a writer who tends to draw from personal experience, I found that period to be incredibly isolating and uninspiring. It took about six months of meandering nightly walks before a song appeared. When it finally came, it insinuated itself into my life as all the best ones do. The melody wouldn’t leave me alone for weeks. ‘Sleeper Agent’ arrived a few lines at a time until I had about seven verses to choose from. As soon as the song was finished I knew it had to open the record.
@michaellockwoodthemusician and I started recording just long enough after the plague began that we were able to be in the same room to cut the guide track (that’s the original lead vocal on the master). We had originally planned to build on my demo, which had more of an indie-rock feel, but at the last minute I decided to “Levon” the beat and re-record the song in half-time. It then went to @blairsinta for some very tasteful drumming–that’s Blair in our recent live videos–and to the fantastic @patrickwarren1, whose strings and Wurlitzer help give the track its sweeping, cinematic feel. The piano was always meant to be integral to the production, but it didn’t actually fall in until later, when Michael invited the great songwriter and musician @edharcourt to contribute. Ed did his mad-scientist thing and sent back three different versions of the part, plus a bass track and some harmony vocals. His contributions to this track–and to the world of music at large–are immeasurable.
@michael_brauer_ brought the room together with a mix that sounds positively enormous while giving breathing room to each individual musical voice.
To all my Grammy-voting frenz: the Bird Streets single UNKIND has made it to the long lists for Best Americana Performance, Best American Roots Song, and Song of the Year. This is the steepest of uphill climbs and your votes would make a huuuge difference. Listen at https://bit.ly/unkindbc and please tick those boxes 🙏
