Last year, Louisiana-born singer-songwriter Kate Ellis, released her sophomore album ‘Spirals’, reviewed here by Mike Davies for Folk Radio, who described it as “Beguilingly sung, melodic, warm, tender, open and insightful in its vortex of emotions”.
Since its release, the album has been streamed 700,000 times, and now, vinyl music lovers like myself, have the opportunity to own this gem on vinyl – as part of a limited edition run of 300. These hand-numbered releases are available now on River Rose Records. The album is being distributed in the UK and ten other European territories by Continental Record Services and you can also order the album via Kate’s website here.
Kate Ellis said of the vinyl edition: “The physical properties of a vinyl record as an object have always been very important to me. My dad’s collection really influenced me musically growing up and shaped the the music I love and write. I’ve got some cherished records of his and I love that they are old and were loved by him. A lot of people have asked me about ‘Spirals’ on vinyl so I’m thrilled that it’s now available.”
To celebrate the vinyl release, we have the immense pleasure of sharing a new video from Kate. A cover of ‘Hurt’, an iconic song by Trent Reznor, most famously re-interpreted by Johnny Cash at the end of his life. The single was released on 3rd March, a year after the release of Spirals.
“Hurt is one of those songs that you wish you had written. A simple structure and melody that conveys the most powerful and complex emotions.
I am in awe of songs that can do that.”
–– Kate Ellis
The limited edition vinyl of ‘Spirals’ comes with the previously unreleased, special bonus track ‘Hurt’ which was recorded during the Spirals album studio sessions with producer John Reynolds (Sinead O’Connor, Indigo Girls, Belinda Carlisle, Damien Dempsey).
The music video for ‘Hurt’ is as beautiful and atmospheric as the recording and was directed by Benny Trickett, who has worked with legends like Pink Floyd, Kings of Leon and Beyoncé, and filmed by cinematographer Gabi Norland, who has worked with artists like Kate Tempest, Suede and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. The video was shot in London’s magnificent Asylum Chapel, a Grade II listed building with a combination of crumbling beauty and ethereal grace, perfectly mirroring the song’s theme of earthly decay and spiritual hope.
While recording ‘Hurt’ and the other songs on ‘Spirals’, Kate Ellis and John Reynolds connected strongly over a desire to capture the emotional truth in the music. “One of the things I love about John Reynolds’s production on ‘Hurt’ is how he really brings out the feeling of redemption”, Kate says. “The angelic, choral harmonies of Pauline Scanlon and the gorgeous, driving, layered cello arrangement by Caroline Dale create a feeling of looking up to the heavens for help, surrendering to this feeling of pain and in doing so finding a kind of solace.”
Kate adds: “‘Hurt’ is a pure, bare, elemental outpouring of human suffering so simply and beautifully conveyed. The melody works in complete harmony with the lyrics to bring the listener down to the song’s base level of despair.” According to Kate, the song fits perfectly as a bonus track on a record that is about finding a new understanding of ways to cope with the demons and dramas that can take over our minds. “In ‘Hurt’ there is a strength that comes out of this voice of despair, like someone who has reached rock bottom, and in doing so has found the strength to get through and possibly, with the last line, find another way to live.”
