Our Song of the Day comes from Portland, Oregon’s Anna Tivel with ‘Fenceline’ from her new album The Question (out April 19th on Fluff and Gravy Records). The album was recorded with Shane Leonard (Will Oldham, Damien Jurado) and Brian Joseph (Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens) in Hive Studio out in Eau Claire, WI. The response to this release has been incredible, it’s been described as her most ambitious and stunning record to date. You can hear why below.
Of the Song Anna shared:
This is a song about the divisions we create to keep each other out, from fences and walls, to the gates of heaven. I guess I got to thinking a lot about what makes us different and what makes us the same, what breeds hatred and fear and what breeds understanding. I heard an interview awhile back with a border guard. He was in charge of a two mile stretch of old fence and every morning he would walk along the fence line and find wire cutters and holes. He talked about the people he met, the people he helped through and those he had to send back, what their lives were like, what they were hoping for, what they were scared of. It was right after the election and it felt so good to hear someone talk about how deeply complex borders issues are, how security is important but so is humanity. I kept thinking about St. Peter and his gate, how some people believe that you arrive at the entrance to heaven and have to prove that you belong there, that even in death we’re drawn to the idea of some kind of great wall.
Anna Tivel’s new album, The Question, will be out April 19th on Fluff and Gravy Records
Anna Tivel Tour Dates
10/26 Lancaster, WI @ Three Springs Barn
10/27 Princeton, IL @ Princeton Coffeehouse
10/28 Davenport, IA @ Triple Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel
11/08 Ashland, OR @ Headwaters Building
11/09 Redding, CA @ House Show
11/10 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
11/15 Boulder Creek, CA @ Lille Aeske Arthouse
11/16 Hollywood, CA @ Hotel Cafe
11/17 San Francisco, CA @ KC Turner House Concert
11/18 Arcata, CA @ The Miniplex at Richard’s Goat Tavern
11/29 Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door
11/30 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
01/27 Willamina, OR @ Wildwood Hotel
Photo Credit: Matt Dayak