Carolyn Kendrick – “The Devil’s Nine Questions”
Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Carolyn Kendrick’s version of the traditional song “The Devil’s Nine Questions” from her forthcoming album Each Machine. The album was mixed and produced by Carolyn Kendrick, and mastered by Anna Frick of Ally Sound, with cover design by Bella Porter and photography by Alex Steed. “The Devil’s Nine Questions” was engineered by Colin Lester Fleming at Great North Sound Society in Maine
“The Devil’s Nine Questions” is a traditional song that Carolyn originally Iearned from Bruce Molsky. However, as she now says, she has “entirely and intentionally bastardized the traditional lyrics in this rendition.” Musicians on the recording are Carolyn Kendrick on vocals, cuatro, orchestral chimes, and accordion; and Isa Burke on electric guitar and Rhodes bass. “You must answer my questions nine” rings out in crystal clear vulnerability in high registers, like new fallen snow. It’s a lovely sound for a timeless folk song, and Carolyn’s revisioning of the lyrics in a more empowering way is extraordinary.
“The Devil’s Nine Questions” is the first song that I recorded on my new album, Each Machine. I made this record while researching and contemplating how our current regressive political moment of fear, misinformation, and panic relate to the past, and how demonization of others only leads to cultural atomization and tribalism. Recording this song was a way to reflect on the ways that black and white thinking can be dangerous, especially in times like now where issues such as democracy, bodily autonomy, and equal protection are now in jeopardy. Overall, the centering meditation of this song, as well as the whole record, is that when you point your finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at yourself. I recorded this song to remind myself that critical thought must be equally administered inwardly first and foremost. – Carolyn Kendrick
Order and pre-save the music here:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/carolynkendrick/the-devils-nine-questions
