2011 Juno Award Nominees Dala Release Fifth Studio Album

BEST DAY OUT TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Toronto, ON – Canadian folk duo and 2011 JUNO Award nominees, Dala, have announced their fifth studio album, Best Day, is set to be released Tuesday, June 5, 2012 (Campus Records / Universal Music Canada). Recorded at a cottage in Honey Harbour, Ontario, Best Day features 11 original tracks written by singer-songwriters Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine. The album was produced by Mike Roth. Full track listing below.

“I am so proud of this album,” says Sheila Carabine. “There are songs on here that Amanda and I would have been afraid to write when we started out ten years ago. I feel lucky to sing and write with my best friend and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.”

Dala’s latest album is a blend of stripped down, purely acoustic tracks and songs featuring string arrangements by Chris Bilton, Asher Lenz and cellist Kevin Fox. The message of the album focuses on celebrating and embracing the changes that life has to offer.The title track, “Best Day,” expresses these sentiments and is a reflection of the way that Walther and Carabine look at their individual lives and their musical partnership. Similarly, singles such as “Life on Earth” and “Still Life” encourage listeners to view their lives as masterpieces in the making, regardless of the materials they are given to work with.

Last year, Dala were honoured to be nominated for a 2011 JUNO Award in the category of Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Group for their 2010 live CD/DVD, Girls From The North Country. Additionally, the live CD/DVD won the pair a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year and was aired repeatedly by PBS outlets throughout North America. In 2009, Dala won a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Folk Group for their fourth studio album, Everyone Is Someone, and their single “Horses” was nominated by National Public Radio in the US as one of the Top Ten Folk Songs of 2009.

Since Dala’s 2005 debut album, This Moment Is A Flash, the response from fans and critics has been enthusiastic, landing them in opening slots for several well-known artists including Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane, Richie Havens and Arlo Guthrie. The duo have performed at some of North America’s highest profile music festivals including the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Mariposa and the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival (2009), where they were the only Canadian act invited to play. This summer Walther’s and Carabine will take Best Day on the road, performing at various festivals across North America.

“Dala can sing! What beautiful flights of melody and harmony, reminiscent of the Everly Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, Emmylou Harris and associates; though Dala can trade a melody line and leave one wondering who is taking the lead and simply leave one behind when the harmonies kick in.” – Peterborough Examiner

“With their pitch-perfect harmonies, haunting versions of Canadian classics, cleverly crafted compositions, and complete comfort with one another in the spotlight, this pretty pair of northern songbirds has always been obviously on their way to the big time.” – Roots Music Canada

Best Day Track Listing:

Life on Earth
Best Day
Not Alone
Lennon and McCartney
Good as Gold
Great Escape
Father
Virginia Woolf
Peggy
First Love
Still Life

Website: www.dalagirls.com