Julia Sanders – “Queen of Swords”
Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Julia Sanders’ song “Queen of Swords” from her forthcoming album Dark Matter, which is set to release on May 16. Dark Matter was produced, recorded and mixed by John James Tourville at Neighborhood Studio; and mastered by Jack Tellmann at The Bomb Shelter.
“Queen of Swords” is Julia Sanders on vocals and guitar; John James Tourville on guitar, synth, keys, and aux percussion; Joey Brown on bass; and Julie Odell on backing vocals.
With a dark bouncy rhythm, this song expresses the resignation that accompanies facing an inconceivable reality. Written in light of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, NC, the song expresses the sorrow in a restrained, melancholy and cathartic way: “The tears don’t come through like they used to / Guess I could thank the pills.” Filmed on the bank of the river that has been transformed, the video is tailor-made for the song’s mood. Titled after a symbol of strength and endurance “Queen of Swords” rises above with quietude.
The video for this song felt like a chance to acknowledge the devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to my home of Asheville, and the lost feeling that both inspired the song and filled my days after the storm. Making this video was the first time I returned to my favorite running spot after six months, a greenway next to the French Broad River. I worked with another Asheville artist to create the video, and in between takes, we shared stories about taking our dogs to the dog park and riding bikes with our kids on what is now unrecognizable dirt. There has been so much work to clean up and transform both this park and the city. When it’s all finished, we will have to meet something new, because there is no going back to what it was. — Julia Sanders
Stream the music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4svBhTKH6UdYEObFrMX59e?si=c9YpFlUrRuuUeYQTqpQ-hA
