Savages' Jehnny Beth announces solo debut album 'To Love Is To Live', shares new single 'Flower'
Best known as the captivating frontwoman of the Mercury Prize-nominated post-punk band Savages, the singer-songwriter and multi-disciplinary artiste Camille Berthomier aka Jehnny Beth isn't fazed by leaping into brave new worlds.
"I like doing things that are scary," the singer remarked, saying that her penchant for boxing often steered her towards refreshingly brazen career choices. "Once you take a step, in spite of your fear, you realize — this is not how I imagined it would be, but it’s exactly how I want it to be."
True to form, Jehnny recently announced that she would release her debut solo album, 'To Love Is To Live', on May 8 via Caroline Records.
The new record, which was recorded in multiple studios across Los Angeles, London and Paris, features her longtime partner and producer Johnny Hostile. Besides this, the record also includes a slew of famous collaborators such as the producers Flood and Atticus Ross, plus guests like Romy Madley Croft of The XX, and Joe Talbot of IDLES.
Most interestingly, the actor Cillian Murphy of 'Peaky Blinders' fame has also graced this album with a recital of Jehnny's poem 'A Place Above'. It serves as the preface to the album's first single called 'I'm the Man'. The music video for the track also sees Jehnny's first cinematic collaboration with the acclaimed director Anthony Byrne, also of 'Peaky Blinders' fame.
The latest simmering single from the album 'Flower' sees Jehnny exploring new sonic territory. Written about a pole dancer at the notorious Jumbo's Clown Room strip club in Los Angeles, the track details the complicated depths of sexuality tangled in a feverish reverie of desire and loss. You can listen to 'Flower' here.
Jehnny's voice, lyrics and incredible live performances have always gripped audiences. But with 'To Love Is To Live', Jehnny truly claims the spotlight. The entire album is an aural tour de force — a dark, cinematic meditation on the strange business of being alive. In accessing those darkest and least comfortable parts of herself, Jehnny has created a cathartic piece of work that is both abrasive and delicate, yet rich for discourse.
Besides performing with other artistes such as PJ Harvey, The XX, Anna Calvi, Gorillaz and Julian Casablancas, Jehnny has also brought her artistry to other mediums.
She was nominated for a coveted César award for her acting work in 'An Impossible Love' and also stars in Alexandre Astier’s 'Kaamelottt' this coming July. She also hosts a Beats 1 radio program called 'Start Making Sense' and recently debuted a new music series called 'Echoes with Jehnny Beth' which can be seen worldwide via the Arte website.
Jehnny will also be playing select shows all over the globe throughout 2020. For a complete list of tour dates, see below:
3/8/20 London, UK @ BBC 6 Music Festival
5/29/20 London, UK @ All Points East Festival
5/31/20 Kværndrup, Denmark @ Heartland Festival
6/2/20 Hamburg, Germany @ Mojo
6/4/20 Paris, France @ La GaîtéLyrique
6/5/20 Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Festival
6/9/20 Milan, Italy @ Magnolia
6/10/20 Marina Di Ravena, Italy @ Beaches Brew Festival
6/12/20 Porto, Portugal @ Primavera Festival
6/30/20 Berlin, Germany @ Säälchen
7/3/20 Ewjik, Netherlands @ Down the Rabbit Hole Festival
7/4/20 Arras, France @ Main Square Festival 2020
7/15/20 Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater
7/18/20 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
7/19/20 Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
7/21/20 Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theatre
7/22/20 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
7/23/20 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
7/25/20 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
7/26/20 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club