Brooklyn-based songwriter Gemma Laurence is recently returning to civilization after an extended period spent isolated on the coast of Maine—but you may have already gleaned that if you’ve heard either of the singles that have trickled from her forthcoming sophomore album Lavender, which collects eight recordings effectively translating that experience of solitary recollection and idyllic oceanside views to tender Americana ballads. She explains that the tracks were born of a moment of reflection most of us lived through at some point during the pandemic, fondly looking back on all the people and places who’ve populated our lives over the years.
“I wanted to write an album that would read like a collection of short stories, all exploring different expressions of queerness, intimacy, self-love, friendship, and loss,” she shares. “Each song captures a specific feeling, or moment in time: remembering the way the autumn light danced through a lover's eyes on a sunny afternoon in Morningside Heights, or how the mist rolled in across the San Francisco bay on a foggy morning. I wanted to capture everything in the most minute detail.”
With the record officially dropping tomorrow, Laurence is sharing an early stream of the collection with us today, which includes six unheard tracks along with the previously released wistful “Adrienne” and swelling title track. “It feels really special to release this album,” she continues. “So much hard work and collaboration went into making it. If I could thank every single person, I would. I hope this album resonates with listeners, even if it's just in a tiny detail in a song that makes somebody feel heard.”
You can stream the full project below, and find the full list of collaborators on the linked SoundCloud page.
