Lesley Pike Releases Tug Of War On May 29th

Posted by: popyoularity Posted date: April 20, 2012 In: Daily Dish | comment : 0

CD RELEASE SHOW AT THE DRAKE UNDERGROUND

IN TORONTO ON MAY 31st

Toronto, ON – April 20, 2012 – Seaside in Brighton, UK. It’s February 2012 and Lesley Pike is staring into endless blue, having just heard the final mixes of her new album. After three years of working to get the songs from her heart to listeners’ ears, the Toronto-based singer-songwriter is ready to release Tug Of War, out on May 29, 2012, through her own label, Tenspeed. Featuring eight new, original songs, and a hauntingly beautiful cover of the Tears For Fears classic Head Over Heels, the album is the culmination of a three-year ride through extreme highs and lows, all of which Lesley knows were entirely worth it. For a taste of what the album has to offer, check out the first single White Lies here, and don’t miss Lesley as she launches the album on May 31st in Toronto at the Drake Underground.

Produced by Tim Glasgow (Metric, Sonic Youth), Juno winner Vincent Marcone (Johnny Hollow), and Lesley herself, each song on Tug Of War is inspired by an overwhelming feeling or emotion, with desire – in all its fiery, primal and complicated glory – as the consistent undercurrent running throughout. After writing and re-writing the album over and over trying to find what felt just right, Lesley holed up in a studio for three weeks with Glasgow and Marcone in what turned out to be a very collaborative and speedy process. Working intuitively and instinctively, the trio produced the intimate and raw set of songs that are now found on the record.

The Longest Goodbye was recorded in one take, and We Build Towers was written and recorded in one take, live off the floor. The quirky toe-tapper White Lies was written with Canadian songstress Emma-Lee and Karen Kosowski, and features nothing more than one cello, one saxophone and a whole lot of percussion. However, not all of the songs are toe-tappers. Weapon Down, the recounting of a shooting Lesley witnessed in the summer of 2011, is a song that she struggled with for quite some time because of the memories it stirred up. Tug of War, while initially sparked by a romance, quickly grew into the title track and an anthem – a testament to the struggle Lesley and her team went through to complete the album.

Following the 2008 release of her first album, Blink, Lesley spent the next couple of years traveling North America and the UK, playing over 400 shows. She performed in front of 15,000 people at Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre with Jason Mraz, and opened for the likes of Darius Rucker, Three Dog Night, Cowboy Junkies, Justin Nozuka, and Jeremy Fisher. 2012 will see Lesley back on the road with tour dates through the spring and into summer (details listed below).

Raw and intimate, the way it should be, complete with highs & lows, laughter & tears, the culmination of many years. Ready…set…Tug of War.

Tug Of War Tracklisting:
1. I Go Wild

2. The Great Unknown

3. White Lies

4. Tug Of War

5. Head Over Heels

6. Little Spark

7. Weapon Down

8. The Longest Goodbye

9. We Build Towers

Upcoming Tour Dates:

May 31 – Toronto, ON – The Drake Underground