The Hello Darlins offer a preview of their debut album – Go By Feel – on flawless new track ‘Aberdeen.’
Single by single, The Hello Darlins continue to shake up the Americana and Roots music scene ahead of the release of their full-length debut album, Go By Feel in 2021. Their latest offering, “Aberdeen,” (out now) features singer/guitarist Joey Landreth of The Bros. Landreth, the latest addition to The Hello Darlins collective, showing again how they’re living up to their reputation as “the Broken Social Scene of Americana.”
Watch the video for “Aberdeen” at Tinnitist HERE
“Aberdeen” is a song about a horse, written by the Darlins’ co-founders, singer Candace Lacina and Hammond organist Mike Little. But what it’s really about is loyalty and friendship, and how to extend that beyond the boundaries of a ‘fence-line’ or lifetime. Candace explains, “When we played the demo for Joey Landreth, he got it right away. We recorded it in our home studio and he delivered such a heartfelt vocal, the way only Joey Landreth can.” The result is a breathtaking, moving track that combines Americana, country and folk sounds effortlessly. Also appearing on the track is Tammy Rogers from The SteelDrivers on mandolin, with Mike Little contributing on accordion.
In Joey Landreth’s view, “The Hello Darlins is a collection of some of the finest musicians and people I know. Playing with them is a joy and recording this song and video was a blast. This is such a beautiful song that weaves a delicate and complex story. Great music made by great people. It doesn’t get better than that!”
The concept of The Hello Darlins first took shape back in 2016 when Calgary-based Lacina and Little (also known as MFL), crossed paths again after first meeting at a recording studio six years earlier. Upon reconnecting, they soon found themselves making music together in between their work with other artists, an impressive list that ranges from Shania Twain to Charlie Major, The Road Hammers to George Canyon as well as the late B.B. King.
Through The Hello Darlins, Lacina and Little, along with a powerhouse supporting cast of Canada’s most in-demand session musicians, combine all of their skills and influences to forge a hybrid of country, gospel and blues like no other.
The Hello Darlins are usually a 5 or 6 piece band, but have performed as a duo – and up to a 9 piece collective. The musicians are all studio-level players, who can perform a variety of instruments as well as sing harmonies and leads. The project is fronted by female lead vocalist, Candace Lacina, and in a live setting, each member of the band takes turns performing various songs.
“We thought it would be fun to put together a band with long-time, professional musicians who are often the people ‘behind the songs’ you hear on the radio,’” Candace explains.
Mike, particularly known for his prowess on the Hammond B-3 organ adds, “We write and play for a lot of great artists and we’ve always been IN the band. It’s fun to have a killer project with our friends – who also happen to be really incredible musicians. “In the spring of 2019, we got together with some fellow writers including Clayton Bellamy and Murray Pulver and started making demos. Right away, the combination of the songs and harmonies, and the authenticity of playing with real instruments really resonated. We all felt that this was something special.”
Along with recording at their own studio in Calgary, The Hello Darlins have been laying down tracks with Pulver (Crash Test Dummies, The Bros. Landreth), in Calgary at Studio D, and at Winnipeg’s Stereobus – one of their frequent ports of call for producing and session work. The Darlins are also fortunate to be teaming up with multiple Grammy award winning, Mike Poole (Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, John Prine, The Wood Brothers, ABC’s Nashville TV series) to create a unique mix that supports an organic production of real instrumentation and real vocals.
Based on what they’ve offered so far with their previous two singles—“Still Waters” (featuring Matt Andersen), and “Catch That Train”—the album can’t come soon enough for their rapidly growing fan base.
