Avery Hill The One Who Remembers
Often, being a single mom comes on unexpectedly, and not what we had originally anticipated for our lives. This is Avery Hill’s context for the writing of these songs and during the creation of her new album The One Who Remembers. And while many of the songs are about Avery’s own childhood experiences, they reflect this new layer of life as well. As Avery put it: “I realized that—on the other side of all this change—I needed to put these songs to press to capture this moment in my life. They helped me stay in touch with who I am at my core, who I am because of the people who raised me.”
The title track opens the album with reflection and bright piano and guitar and the nostalgic, broad outlook: “I am no star chaser / I am no hearbreaker / I am only the one who remembers / all that is here now is older than I / much will remain after I die.” In “The Nest” there is accordion and glockenspiel amidst gentle bird sounds and remembering one who is gone: “today is a day you will not see, so I will let the sun wash over me.” And at the same time, these sentiments reflect back on Avery in this time, as her own folk songs anchor memories and, we imagine, waft soothingly through her own home, child, and … fans.
There are lullabies hummed with a rocking chair sound, and a cooing baby; and then old timey radio and a tea kettle steaming recorded in Echo No. 1″ and “Echo No. 2.” The later there are beach sounds, seagulls and waves on the beach in “Echo No. 3,” and a snippet of an interview with a pilot on “Echo No. 4.” Nostalgic songs are interspersed between these old recordings.
“The Spoon Jar” tells a story of what some might say was just a simple woman taking care of kids “but there’s something to be said for living your life in one place.” Avery selects gently on an ancestor’s legacy of simply standing for a secure home and considers – what would she think if she could see all of her progeny in their various lives now. “Walk Through the Door” is accordion again, and a loving song “I can feel your heart as it’s beating / I can hear you singing, laughing dancing / I can see your story beginning / Walk through the door, find what you’re looking for, when you’re ready to go.”
Based in Portland, Avery Hill has a studio and teaches ukulele. And is a singer songwriter of folk songs that make you think, full of relatable imagery and a focus on the arc of time stretching through the years and through the generations. She is the one who remembers. And this is quite a project.
Find more details here on her website: http://averyhill.studio/
Musicians on the album are Avery Hill on guitar, vocals, piano (Track 11), and glockenspiel (Track 2); Jenny Conlee on accordion, organ, and piano; Kathryn Claire on fiddle; Dale Jones on bass (Tracks 1, 2, 6, 9); Aaron Elliott on bass (4, 7, 12); and Flyover States (Steven and Jessica Patton, Aaron Elliott): on vocal harmonies.
This album was produced by Avery Hill with lead vocal tracks produced by Vicki Green. It was recorded and mixed by Steve Drizos at The Panther in Portland OR with additional mixing consultation by Vicki Green. It was mastered by Jon Neufeld with photos by Rita Silen.
