Tag: The Sound of Ghosts

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Medium, Music

‘Heavy Burden’: The Sound of Ghosts Discuss Ethereal New Single

Fresh off the heels of their most recent album, 2018’s Delivery and Departure, L.A.-based Americana-roots collective The Sound of Ghosts is back with their highly-anticipated new single, “Heavy Burden.”

The track, diverse in its tempo and rich in sonic texture, was inspired by Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” and the idea of carrying the weight of trauma and pain experienced throughout life.

Lyrically, charismatic vocalist Anna Orbison delivers an emotionally ubiquitous and haunting vocal to the song and takes the listener of a journey of pain and self-awareness. “Heavy Burden” also features a guest performance by trumpeter Paul Litteral, who’s resume includes working with such legends as The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits and Billy Joel.

To those not already familiar with The Ghosts, the band’s music blends the best elements of Americana, folk, rock and jazz into one tasty musical stew. Having performed extensively throughout the L.A. area and Pacific Northwest, where they’ve opened for such artists as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Sisterhood and Oingo Boingo, their insatiable music has also been featured nationwide in commercials for major brands.

I recently spoke with The Sound of Ghosts’ Anna and James Orbison about “Heavy Burden” and more in this exclusive new interview.

What’s the band’s songwriting process like?

James Orbison: Every song is different. In the past it would usually start with a riff idea that would be brought to the band and then we’d form it into something that sounds like the Ghosts. Anna has really hit her stride with songwriting and leading the charge with ideas and melodies.

How did the song “Heavy Burden” come about?

Anna Orbison: We write in a lot of different ways but the melody and lyrics of “Heavy Burden” came to me all at the same time. I had been reading Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth,” and his idea of a “pain body” being the weight we carry around from traumas and pain we’ve experienced throughout our lives. It really stuck with me. When we carry that pain with us into relationships it ends up weighing our partners and our friends down and creating more pain for the people we care about. “Heavy Burden” is a reminder that when we hurt our loved ones it’s coming from our own pain and not from love. Love is not constant pain.

What can you tell me about Paul Litteral’s involvement in the new track?

AO: Paul and I met when I first moved to L.A. almost ten years ago. He’s been playing live shows and on our recordings for the last few years and we’re so very lucky to have him. He’s played with The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Billy Joel, Tom Waits, and so many other incredible artists.

Read the rest of my
Interview with The Sound Of Ghosts By Clicking Here.

Album Reviews, Entertainment, Music

Album Review: The Sound of Ghosts Deliver Their Best Album To Date With ‘Delivery & Departure’

 

The Sound of Ghosts

Since their arrival to the scene in 2014, L.A.-based Americana roots collective, The Sound of Ghosts has been wowing audiences with their tight, multi-instrumental attack, well-crafted songwriting and undeniable feel-good charm.

The Sound of Ghosts recent success includes a successful tour of the Pacific Northwest as well as opening for such artists as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Sisterhood and Oingo Boingo. The band also delivered an engagingly intimate performance at The Roswell Film Festival and their music has been featured in nationwide commercials for major brands.

The Sound of Ghosts is: James Orbison (vocals, bass), Anna Orbison (vocals, ukulele), Ernesto Rivas (lead guitar), Phoebe Silva (fiddle) and Jon Sarna (drums).

There is a deep sense of musical maturity and credibility with The Sound of Ghosts latest album, Delivery & Departure, which continues their unique approach of blending the best elements Americana, folk, rock and jazz have to offer into one richly-textured, sonic landscape.

Perhaps no better example of the totality of this quintet’s ability exists than in the album’s lead single, “Train to Nowhere”. An inspired introspection that eloquently showcases the band’s complete musical stew.

Led by charismatic vocalist Anna Orbison’s hauntingly beautiful melodies, the song takes the listener on a multi-layered journey of harmonic goodness. Whether it’s the infectiousness of Phoebe Silva’s fiddle, the sudden changes in tempo or the insanely cool trumpet solo, this is a track that screams for repeated listens.

The contagious “Fall Apart” also exemplifies Orbison’s expressively warm range with a toe-tapping rhythm held together by James Orbison’s dominating upright bass line.

“Guillermo’s Lament” clocks in at more than six minutes but is worth every one of them. What seems almost like spoken word, the track is pure poetry. Complete with empathetic melodies highlighted by Ernesto Rivas’ clean, guitar attack.

“I’m Gonna Be Free” is another thought provoking track that discusses the idea of independence and is driven home by drummer Jon Sarna’s in the pocket grooves and the band’s vicious harmonies.

There’s a cool hint of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats in the track, “Dancing Shoes”. A song that’s equally influenced by the band’s love of 1950’s Doo-Wop.

With Delivery & Departure, The Sound of Ghosts have not only given us one of the year’s finest independent albums, but also a friendly reminder that the best is yet to come.