| Montreal band’s debut album captures the timeless spirit of early folk and country. Watch “STAY WITH ME AWHILE” official video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx28rqWxWSI The album is available now digitally: https://orcd.co/staywithmeawhil Stay With Me Awhile was recorded in February 2020 by acclaimed Quebec singer/songwriter Fred Fortin at his home studio in the wilds near Lac Saint-Jean, with its eight tracks capturing The Slowinks in their purest form yet. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Felicity Hamer—formerly of United Steel Workers of Montreal—the drummer-less combo also features lead guitarist Martin Tremblay, rhythm guitarist Olivier Pépin and double bassist Mathieu Deschenaux who together infuse their original songs (plus a cover of the Tin Pan Alley standard “Ain’t Got Nobody”) with an undeniably modern energy, while adhering to tradition. |
| Listeners got a taste of The Slowinks’ at their rowdiest on the album’s first single “One Shoe,” on which Felicity cuts loose in full Rose Maddox-meets-Neko Case fashion. However, Stay With Me Awhile also delivers its fair share of honky tonk heartbreak on songs such as “Nobody But You” and “Let Them Talk,” while the band proves to be just as potent en français with “Solange.” In fact, Stay With Me Awhile’s haunting title track began life as one of Martin’s demos with French lyrics. Felicity chose to write new lyrics in English to reflect her own experience of trying to hold onto someone she lost, and in the process gave the song an entirely different power. Felicity says, “Just weeks after our return from recording, the pandemic hit Montreal and the song has since taken on even more meaning. This is just one of those songs that feels like a memory—‘These streets are filled with ghosts, hard to crack a smile. I miss you the most, stay with me awhile.’” Indeed, one of the great joys in listening to Stay With Me Awhile is in knowing it was recorded just before the pandemic, when there was still fun to be had. Those days will come again, hopefully sooner than later, and The Slowinks are ready to provide the soundtrack. “The overall lively sound [of Stay With Me Awhile] will certainly suffice until The Slowinks can do what they do best on stage again.” – Beehive Candy |