Joan Shelley announces first album in three years, Real Warmth

Real Warmth is the follow-up to Shelley’s acclaimed 2022 album The Spur, the 2019 release, Like The River Loves The Sea, and her self-titled debut, which was released in 2017.

Offering three different readings of the album's title, Joan Shelley says: "The warmth of actual bodies: connection and belonging as opposed to the facades we show each other, in person and also in the lifeless online world; A spiritual, humane warmth as opposed to performative or superficial kindness where love only applies to one's own group, but will permit incredible suffering for another. How massive an effort it is to still love people at this time, in this place; The real warmth of the planet and the urgency of our moment. Finding ways to guard the fragile world and gentle people; searching for balance between extremes."

The album was engineered by Ben Whiteley, bassist for The Weather Station and Jake Xerxes Fussell, who says: "We had a few windows in mid-winter and it really felt like there was an urgency to capture a moment in time with these songs, performances, people involved, and against the political backdrop. The record really feels like a capture instead of a meticulous construction. Part of Joan’s concept was not only to go to a place but to draw on the community of musicians from that place."

Tracklist:

1. Here in the High and Low
2. On the Gold and Silver
3. Field Guide To Wild Life
4. Wooden Boat
5. For When You Can’t Sleep
6. Everybody
7. New Anthem
8. Heaven Knows
9. Ever Entwine
10. Give It Up, It’s Too Much
11. The Orchard
12. Who Do You Want Checking In On You
13. The Hum