Somethings Changing

Description

Like all folkloric stories, the making of Somethings Changing has a certain degree of serendipity. While on a quick break from the hectic tour commitments of Lucys top 10 charting second album Work It Out, she noticed a steady stream of tweets reaching her from Latin America. This was in addition to the unlikely statistic that her musics most listened to city on Spotify was Mexico City. This insight gave birth to the seed of an idea that became a real labor of love over the next six months. Lucy offered her fans in Latin America a deal: If you book me a gig, Ill come and stay. It was a loco demente plan but the outcome was far more fruitful and inspiring than could have been imagined.

For two months Lucy, her guitar, and her backpack toured Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico, playing free shows, staying with fans and falling back in love with making music. To document the experience, Lucys husband/tour manager brought along a camera and together they endeavored to film as much of the trip they could. The result was deeply moving footage of, fans blocking the street outside a gig above a launderette, trying to sleep on endless inter-city bus rides, living with families in out of the way towns and Lucy, being overwhelmed by the kindness and faith in music of those she met. After reflecting on the hours of film, this footage became the source material for the documentary film (of the same name as the album) about the trip.

The tour left Lucy with a new creative spark, Its like I was an-uncracked glo-stickand now Ive been cracked. Surfing on the insights of her travels, she set out to make the third album her own sweet way. Real emotions, unprocessed, people playing in the same room, and if she wanted the bass to sound like Scott Walkers bass that would happen. Through a friend of a friend she hooked up with Brighton producer Tim Bidwell, and in the studio in his house found the ideal place to explore the evocative intimacy and widescreen sweep of the new songs.

Every week Lucy would take the train to Brighton. The record was made in a remarkably fluent seventeen days. Major contributions were made by Tims in-house bassist Ben Daniels and drummer Chris Boot (soon to head out as part of the live band) as well as guest appearances by Elena Tonra (Daughter), Marcus Hamblett (Bears Den) and Emma Gatrill (Matthew and The Atlas). On two tracks vocal harmonies are provided by The Staves, Floral Dresses and Is This Called Home. Meanwhile the experiences in Latin America add to the very human heart of the record.