Florida-raised, Nashville-based artist Laney Jones will release a new album Stories Up High on May 20 via AHPO Records (pre-save here). Recorded at Nashville’s Bomb Shelter with producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Langhorne Slim, Hurray for the Riff Raff), the album blends indie rock, dusty ‘60s R&B instrumentation, and subtle touches of modern folk into 11 songs exploring growth, change, reality, and the subconscious. Watch the captivating animated video created by Shane Pielocik here and a live performance of the slow-churning title track, “Stories Up High” here.
“When I write, it’s like I step inside of a dream,” says Laney Jones. “I go to this place that’s somewhere between sleeping and waking, between memory and imagination. It’s a place where anything can happen.”
Stories Up High is a collection of dynamic and engrossing tunes; each chord change and mood shift is intentional, while simultaneously baring some unpredictable fangs. The album opener “Stories Up High” leads with a taste of Smile-era orchestration (timpani, glockenspiel, and a blanket of church organ) swiftly clearing the way for Jones’s big, warm, emotive timbre and a lone, echoey acoustic guitar. The backing rhythm section gradually sways further and further until the ballad is in full rapture, leaving the listener immersed in a soaring vibe and wondering just how they got there.
The songwriting here, like the band, is of rare stock. There is a natural composure – a timeless and nimble creativity that refuses to be precious or cover its freckles – giving the collective a living-breathing essence. Throughout the tracklist are infectious and upbeat crescendos (“Secret Weapon”), punchy pop rock singalongs (“Not Alone”), dreamy and melancholic folk (“If Life Is”), and floating vintage patinas (“One Fine Morning”). The performances here evoke faded, old Hollywood glamour full of longing, but dig beneath the surface and you’ll find that Jones is an optimist at heart, a believer in the relentless beauty of this world.
In a relatively brief amount of time, Laney Jones has made significant accomplishments while finding her creative voice and a dedicated audience. Songs from her diverse writing catalog have received millions of streams and can be heard in movies and commercials for Pixar, Google, Netflix, Paramount, and Toyota. Her 2016 album Laney Jones prompted Rolling Stone to hail her as an “Artist You Need To Know”. With Stories Up High, her first album in six years, Jones is primed to become an Artist You Already Know.
Laney will tour with Blitzen Trapper in June 2022, with her own headline dates to be announced soon.
June 14 – Missoula, MT – Wilma Theatre
June 15 – Helena, MT – Lewis & Clark Taproom
June 16 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm
June 17 – Billings, MT – Pub Station
June 18 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s
June 19 – Denver, CO – Levitt Pavilion
June 21 – Telluride, CO – Club Red
June 25 – Ketchum, ID – The Argyos
June 27 – Jackson, WY – Center for the Arts
June 28 – Boise, ID – The Neurolux