Shane Alexander – “Higher Than High”
Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Shane Alexander’s song “Higher Than High” from his upcoming new album, Forever Songs, which will be out on April 4th. Forever Songs was produced by Shane Alexander, engineered by Shane Alexander and Ted Russell Kamp, mixed by Grammy- winner Brian Yaskulk, and mastered by Richard Dodd. It was recorded at Buddhaland Studios in Westlake Village, CA.
“Whole Lotta Stars” is Shane Alexander on vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, percussion, and glockenspiel; Vic Ruiz on bass; Fernando Sanchez on drums and percussion; Carl Byron on piano, organ, keyboards, and mellotron; Jesse Siebenberg on pedal steel, lap steel, Weissenborn, additional organ, keys and percussion; Justine Bennett on backing vocals; Jamie Drake on backing vocals; and ommy Schneller on saxophone.
This is a quality song – the lyrics, the music, and the essence. A touch of psychedelia, harmonies that sound like the Laurel Canyon, and an honest capturing of the way that being true to yourself and your ultimate goal can make you feel higher than anything else. It’s all set within sonic layers that remain subtle, and centered on a longing to refocus on the way it’s supposed to be, and “get back to what we were dreaming of.”
This song is probably my favorite on the record. Because it’s such a stoner epic (and clocks in just under six minutes), I saved it for the album closer. This is a song about picking up the pieces and moving forward after a major setback. Set against a fairly psychedelic landscape, it pays tribute to so many of the artists I grew up with from my parents record and 8-track collection. I always do my best to put my own spin on things, but I am definitely tipping my cap to Pink Floyd, David Crosby, Traffic and Jeff Beck. This song pretty much came to me as you hear it, including Tommy Schneller’s wailing sax outro. Once I it was recorded and we’d finished the mix, I remember feeling so excited that the song that had been playing in my head for so long was finally in the world. That really felt like a gift. – Shane Alexander
Find more information here: https://lnk.to/higherthanhighshanealexander
Enjoy our review here: Bentley’s Bandstand: February 2025