Following 2019's critically acclaimed Pearl, which saw her return to her rockier roots and Oyster producer Youth, Heather Nova is releasing her first covers album, Other Shores, out August 26th.
The charming singer/songwriter has always liked to sprinkle a cover version or two into her live sets, from artists like Neil Young, Chris Isaak or Nick Cave. The singles released so far, such as "Waiting For A Girl Like You" (Foreigner), "Don't Stop Believing" (Journey) ,”Never Gonna Give You Up" (Rick Astley) "Here Comes Your Man" (Pixies) and “Fireproof” (The National) already indicate the musical journey of this album; Heather is distilling these songs; removing unnecessary ballast and using only the framework and the soul of the lyrics, to give them new life with the sparsest instrumentation and her unique and ethereal voice.
“I’m first and foremost a songwriter, but I’ve discovered I also enjoy being an interpreter sometimes: For me, recording a cover is all about stripping away the original production, to find the bare bones of the song. I love the process of getting right inside the emotion of the song, feeling it as my own, and presenting it in a new, more raw and intimate form. I’m fascinated by how songs written by men feel very different when sung by a woman.” says Heather Nova.
It's exciting to hear what the likeable artist has made of other well-known hits like "Jealous Guy" (Roxy Music) and Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane". You know the songs, but you discover them in a completely new way at the same time. Very intimately arranged, and with the melancholy typical of Heather Nova and her emotional sensitivity, these versions have an almost palpable fragility. "Other Shores" includes 13 reinterpretations and ends - fittingly for Heather Nova - with "Sailing" (Rod Stewart).
Tracklist
01 - Waiting For A Girl Like You
02 - Jealous Guy
03 - Stayin' Alive
04 - Fireproof
05 - Never Gonna Give You Up
06 - Don't Stop Believing
07 - Here Comes Your Man
08 - Fragile
09 - Like A Hurricane
10 - Cold Little Heart
11 - Ever Fallen In Love
12 - Message Personnel
13 - Sailing
Belgian concerts
- 10/10/22 Het Depot, Leuven
- 12/10/22 Stadsschouwburg, Kortrijk
- 13/10/22 Den Amer, Diest
- 14/10/22 CC, Evergem
- 15/10/22 De Velinx, Tongeren
- 16/10/22 De Singer, Rijkevorsel