Matt Palka “Gypsy Queen”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Matt Palma’s song “Gypsy Queen” from his forthcoming album and audiobook Moment in the Sun, which are set for release in June. The music was produced by Matt Palka with Pete Drivere; engineered and mixed by Pete Drivere at Ampreon Recorder; and mastered by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Audio.
“Gypsy Queen” is Matt Palka on vocals and guitar; Alan Moss on pedal steel guitar; Eddie Davis on drums; Scott Burns on bass; Chris Leonardi on piano and organ; Kyle O’Donnell on trumpet; Tim Harker on saxophone; Brian Mayle on trombone; and Kari Ann Rutushin on backing vocals.
As Matt tells us about the song, “My bankroll was running dry so I sold my motorcycle so I could buy a suit and a flight to be a groomsman at a friend’s wedding in Los Angeles. At that wedding I fell for the bridesmaid I was paired with. When I returned to Ohio our courtship entailed weekly letters and postcards. Two months later I asked the bridesmaid if she wanted to join me at another friend’s wedding on the east coast, and then drive with me across the country as I moved back to LA. She said yes and I picked her up in Washington DC on her birthday. We slept the first night in my car, as we couldn’t check into the Airbnb I booked until the following day. A couple nights later I arranged election exit polling jobs for us in Oklahoma City to help pay our way across the country. We got some bed bug bites from the cheap motels we stayed in, but we made it all the way to Hollywood. ‘Gypsy Queen’ is the song I wrote about her and that time.”
Nostalgic swirls of pedal steel and Matt’s emotionally expressive vocals launch this relatable tale of a young couple on an open road adventure. It’s expansive and evocative as you can almost feel the wind blowing in through the open windows.
Find the music links here: https://ffm.to/mpgypsyqueen
