Karen Elson Unveils Sophomore Album, Gets Father John Misty, Patrick Carney, Laura Marling

Published Jan 10, 2017

It's been nearly seven years since Karen Elson released her Jack White-produced debut , but the English-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter (and White's ex) is set to return with a new record this year. Titled Double Roses, Elson's sophomore album will arrive on April 7 through H.O.T Records Ltd. The follow-up to 2010's The Ghost Who Walks, Double Roses was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Jonathan Wilson (Jackson Browne, Father John Misty, Conor Oberst). A press release reveals that the title comes from a Sam Shepard poem, which Elson incorporated into the title track.Said to draw on the sounds of Laurel Canyon-era songwriters, the record features collaborations with Patrick Carney of the Black Keys, Father John Misty, Laura Marling, Benmont Tench, Wilco's Pat Sansone, Nate Wolcott of Bright Eyes, Paul Cartwright and Dhani Harrison.Though Elson had taken a hiatus from recording, she didn't truly stop working, having written and demoed a number of songs within the past few years. A press release reveals that between parenting two children and working "the day job," it took Elson "time, perfect collaborators, and the strength of character to go as deep as she needed to delve into her own psyche" for her second release."I wrote maybe six songs but I'm very instinctual as a person and I knew that there was one puzzle piece missing that I hadn't tapped into the deepest part myself. I knew I needed to pull that out if I was going to make the record I needed to make," she said in a statement. "At the end of the writing the album I felt liberated. I felt free. I felt like me."The breakthrough for Elson was album closer "Distant Shore," which she has shared along with the album announcement. Read through the tracklist for Double Roses to hear the track, featuring Marling on backing vocals and Tench on keys, in the player below.Double Roses:1. Wonder Blind2. Double Roses3. Call Your Name4. Come Hell And High Water5. The End6. Raven7. Why Am I Waiting8. A Million Stars9. Wolf10. Distant Shore