Laura Veirs has announced her 13th solo album Phone Orphans, to be released on November 3rd, 2023, via her own Raven Marching Band Records.
Part of the creation process involved sorting through over 900 voice memos spanning 8 years to curate the 14-track collection, which she recorded herself in her living room. Described as raw and deeply intimate, Phone Orphans also marks the first time in a quarter-century-long career that Veirs has selected and arranged all of her own songs on a record.
Her poetic lead single, “Rocks of Time,” is released today. She says it “was written about my beloved brother and devoted uncle Scott Veirs,” she explains. It’s a seesawing ode to a one-person support network who never fails; for the person in your world who always seems to be there, holding your newborn or your old burdens or whatever else it is you need to share.
It feels good, on my 50th birthday and after 30 years of writing songs, to bring these “Phone Orphans” into the light. These songs have been hiding out on my phone, some of them for over eight years. They are about my family, my lovers and me. I recorded them alone in my living room into my voice memo app. I like their relaxed feel. These songs were mastered but we made no edits to the recordings. I hope you enjoy this intimate glimpse into my artistic process. All songs by me except “Up is a Nice Place to Be” by Rosalie Sorrels and “The Archers” with lyrics adapted from a poem by Federico García Lorca.
Faithfully yours,
Watch the accompanying animated video by Neely Goniodsky
Listen / Buy Phone Orphans here: https://lnk.to/phoneorphans
Veirs will play a run of U.S. and U.K. tour dates this fall in support of Phone Orphans, alongside Karl Blau; see below for a full itinerary of dates, including Brooklyn’s The Owl on December 9th. Phone Orphans is now available for pre-order.
Phone Orphans Tracklist:
1. Creatures of a Day
2. If You Could Hold Someone
3. Rocks of Time
4. Tree Climber
5. Up Is a Nice Place to Be
6. The Archers
7. Tiger Ocean Instrumental
8. Smoke Song
9. Valentine
10. Magnolia Sphere
11. Swan Dive
12. Next One, Maybe
13. Piano Improv
14. Beautiful Dreams
Laura Veirs Live Dates:
09/30 – Minneapolis, MN – Tackle HQ ^
11/05 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall ^
11/06 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern ^
11/22 – Bath, UK – Komedia ^
11/23 – Liverpool, UK – Leaf Cafe ^
11/24 – Dublin, IE – Liberty Hall ^
11/25 – London, UK – Dingwalls ^
11/26 – Twyford, Winchester, UK – St Mary’s Church ^
11/27 – Milton Keynes, UK – The Stables ^
12/09 – Brooklyn, NY – The Owl ^
^ w/ Karl Blau