Gotts Street Park, the Leeds-based trio of instrumentalists and producers have announced the forthcoming release of their second studio album Somewhere Between set for release on 16 October via Play It Again Sam. A departure from the soul, jazz and Hip-Hop-inflected nature of their previous work, Somewhere Between takes sonic cues from folk, psychedelic and Americana sensibilities. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Bill Orcutt, Dylan Day, Dick Gaughan, Jessica Pratt, Big Thief and Blaze Foley in addition to the working methods of the house bands at Stax Records and Sun Records. The end result is a body of work that combines the collective’s signature production prowess with even greater warmth than before, as they draw on the storytelling spirit of the 70s singer-songwriter movement with an illustrious cast list that includes Celeste, Olive Jones, Pip Millett, Matt Maltese, Sofia & The Antoinettes, anaiis and Rosie Lowe. In an era increasingly defined by automation, threaded throughout Somewhere Between is a quiet faith in music as an inherently human act, one shaped by intuition, openness and the intangible chemistry of people creating together.
Speaking further on the origin behind the album’s title and ethos, the band said:
“The title only arrived once the album was finished, and it means something slightly different to each of us. For me, it reflects the space that collaboration creates, a place where our individual lives, moods and experiences overlap for a while to make something together. We’re all arriving from different places, but in the studio those separate worlds meet. There’s something about making music that feels like stepping into a space between the tangible and the intangible, where ideas seem to come from somewhere beyond ourselves. In many ways, that’s what this album represents: meeting somewhere between who we are individually and what we can create together”
The band have unveiled ‘Easy’ as the album’s second single. Featuring BRIT-Award and Academy Award-nominee Celeste, the track is a bewitching and bass-heavy slice of retro soul underpinned by subtle Hip-Hop influences. Examining the push and pull of a romantic relationship, ‘Easy’ is centered on the bittersweet realization that love needn’t be complicated. Bolstered by a weathered and aching vocal from Celeste, her performance adds a palpable sense of bitter lament that rises by the song’s climax.
Speaking on the song’s creative process, the band said:
“‘Easy’ came from one of our very first sessions with Celeste around eight years ago. There’s a rawness and spontaneity to it that captures those early days of working together. Nothing felt overthought or overworked, which gave Celeste the space to completely own the song through her performance. We’ve held onto it for a long time, so it’s exciting to finally have the opportunity to share it.”
In support of the upcoming album, Gotts Street Park kicked off their Somewhere Here World Tour earlier this month which began with a set at Montreal Jazz Festival. The international 22-date jaunt will include UK festival appearances at the first ever London edition of The Roots Picnic founded by Questlove and Black Thought of The Roots. Elsewhere they are set for landmark sets at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival and Montreal International Jazz Festival. The band will also play headline shows and major festivals across Europe and North America, culminating in their biggest headline show to date at London’s Roundhouse on 25 November.
Gott Street Park Live Dates
July
23 – Nice Jazz Festival – Nice, France
30 – LPR – New York City, USA
August
1 – Newport Jazz Festival – Newport, USA
4 – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever – Los Angeles, USA
9 – Roots Picnic, Crystal Palace Bowl – London, UK
November
14 – Opium Rooms – Dublin, Ireland
17 – Project House – Leeds, UK
18 – Band On The Wall – Manchester, UK
19 – Wylam Brewery – Newcastle, UK
20 – St Lukes – Glasgow, UK
25 – Roundhouse – London, UK
28 – Lantern – Bristol, UK
29 – Concorde 2 – Brighton, UK
December
3 – Melkweg Oz – Amsterdam, Netherlands
4 – Gretchen – Berlin, Germany
5 – Vega Small Hall – Copenhagen, Denmark
7 – Ampere – Munich, Germany
8 – Bogen F – Zurich, Switzerland
For more information on Gotts Street Park please check their instagram and bandcamp.