Terra Lightfoot: It's Over Now
Aided by Memphis’ finest, the soulful roots-rocker delivers the goods again.
By Kerry Doole
Terra Lightfoot - It's Over Now (Sonic Unyon): Anticipation is building for the Hamilton roots rocker's next album, Consider the Speed, set for Oct. 16. That is partly down to the fact that Lightfoot recorded it in her musical mecca of Memphis at the famed Royal Studios, home of soul label Hi Records and the birthplace of pivotal sessions for Al Green, Chuck Berry, Ann Peebles, Ike & Tina Turner, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, De La Soul and Wu-Tang Clan.
Given the fact that her sound blends Southern soul, rock and blues elements, this choice of locale would seem to be a heavenly musical marriage, and advance singles from the album are affirming that. The first one, Paper Thin Walls, proved a CBC favourite, and It's Over Now is another winner.
The track begins with a propulsive groove, and Lightfoot’s signature husky voice and virile fretwork hint at an explosion to come. That never quite happens, but the tension created is effective.
On the song, Lightfoot is supported by drummer Steve Potts, bassist Eli Abrams, keyboardist Lester Snell, plus backing vocalists Sharisse Norman and Candise Raybourn-Mitchell, and it was produced by Jay Newland and engineered by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, both Grammy winners. The sessioneers on the album have recorded with Al Green, BB King, Mavis Staples, Isaac Hayes, Buddy Guy, Steve Earle, and more, while the fact that Newland has produced Etta James, Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding, and Buddy Guy, to name just a few, places Lightfoot in exalted company. She has seemingly upped her already formidable game accordingly.
In a label press release, Lightfoot explains that "It's Over Now first emerged as a slower, more sombre song — about letting go of a failed relationship, one that seemed viable but that ultimately just didn’t work out. In-studio, it took on a new life as a straight-ahead rock song, and I can definitely take comfort in that. The drive of the band behind me puts me in a comfortable space to sing that intense chorus vocal."
The song is accompanied by a video, directed by Mat Dunlap, videographer and graphic designer for The Sheepdogs, Andy Shauf, and Rose Cousins. “We got up at sunrise and had a lot of fun making Terra run through beautiful Elysian Park,” says Dunlap. “The song has such a great bad-ass driving beat, I just kept picturing slow-motion footage of Terra being chased by the idea of an ex-lover still haunting her. I also wanted the video to have a slight feel of ’90s video done now, with Terra just being herself and having fun performing the song. I wanted to just let her be herself and find a way to show off her natural swagger.”
Consider the Speed is the follow-up to Lightfoot’s 2017 album New Mistakes, honoured with a Juno nomination and one that featured the SOCAN #1 Song Award-winning single Paradise.
Her status as a road warrior was cemented by her distinction of becoming the first female recipient of CIMA's Road Gold distinction, in recognition of having sold more than 25K tickets in Canadian markets in a single calendar year. Lightfoot also found time to conceive, curate and produce The Longest Road Show, a groundbreaking touring revue.
You can bet she's itching to return to the road. One upcoming date is a show with Hawksley Workman at the Sunset Barrie Drive in Theatre (near Barrie, ON), on Sept. 26.
Links
Publicity: Ken Beattie, Killbeat
Management: Mark Milne and Tim Potocic, Sonic Unyon
Booking Canada: Paquin Artists Agency
Booking USA: Madison House
Booking Elsewhere: Mark Milne | Tim Potocic
