Bluesy Winnipeg songstress Romi Mayes is gearing up to unleash her latest LP Devil on Both Shoulders, and Exclaim! is streaming it right now, a week before it hits shelves.
The new album marks Mayes' sixth, following up 2011's Lucky Tonight, which was recorded in front of a live audience in one take. The making of Devil on Both Shoulder was a bit of a more prolonged process, and one that saw her team up with producer Grant Siemens.
"His impeccable sentimentalities really brought the groove and the flow to the album," said Mayes in a statement. "There was so much respect, trust, and commitment to the end result that we worked together flawlessly. His confidence in me as a songwriter and a singer brought out my best, and pushed me to a higher level of writing and performance."
Her studio band this time around consisted of Damon Mitchell, Alexa Dirks, Bernie Thiessen and Marc Arnould, bringing a "new jolt" to her sound. Also adding to the change in sound, Mayes recently quit smoking. And while it allowed the singer greater vocal versatility and more melodic malleability, it doesn't mean she's lost her edge.
There's still plenty of grit to her voice, as she proves on bluesy numbers like the titular opening track, "Bee Sting" and "Low Light," though she does showcase her softer side on songs like the catchy, twang-heavy "Soul Stealer," the groove-centric, sultry "Make Your Move" and the album's piano-driven bookend "Walk Away."
Devil on Both Shoulders is officially out on May 12. You can see Mayes' upcoming live shows listed below, and scroll past the tour dates to give the new album an early listen.
Tour dates:
05/08 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
05/20 Toronto, ON - Rivoli
05/21 Stratford, ON - Montforte
05/22 Peterborough, ON - Red Dog
05/23 Ottawa, ON - Irene's
05/24 Quebec City, QC - Le Bal Du Lezard
05/26 Saint Andrews, NB - Special Event
05/27 Moncton, NB - Plan B
05/28 Halifax, NS - The Seahorse
05/29 Fredericton, NB - The Capital
05/30 Montreal, QC - Casa Del Popolo
06/01 Kingston, ON - Toucan
06/02 Sudbury, ON - The Motley Kitchen
06/03 Sault Ste Marie, ON - Lop Lops
06/04 Thunder Bay, ON - Crocks
06/05 Perrault Falls, ON - Whiskey Jacks
06/06 Kenora, ON - Brew Pub
06/19-22 Driftpile, AB - North Country Fair
07/14 Saskatoon, SK - Village Guitars
07/15 Red Deer, AB - Fratters
07/16 Calgary, AB - Ironwood
07/17 Fort McLeod, AB - South Country Fair
07/18 Hinton, AB - Wild Mountain Music Fest
07/19 Edmonton, AB - Mercury Room
07/22 Jasper, AB - Jasper Legion
07/23 Spences Bridge, AB - Packing House
07/24 Vancouver, BC - Railway
07/25 Enderby, BC - Lorenzo's
07/26 Banff, AB - Elk And Oarsman
07/28 Medicine Hat, AB - Ye Olde Jar Bar
08/15 Calgary, AB - Spaghetti Western Festival
The new album marks Mayes' sixth, following up 2011's Lucky Tonight, which was recorded in front of a live audience in one take. The making of Devil on Both Shoulder was a bit of a more prolonged process, and one that saw her team up with producer Grant Siemens.
"His impeccable sentimentalities really brought the groove and the flow to the album," said Mayes in a statement. "There was so much respect, trust, and commitment to the end result that we worked together flawlessly. His confidence in me as a songwriter and a singer brought out my best, and pushed me to a higher level of writing and performance."
Her studio band this time around consisted of Damon Mitchell, Alexa Dirks, Bernie Thiessen and Marc Arnould, bringing a "new jolt" to her sound. Also adding to the change in sound, Mayes recently quit smoking. And while it allowed the singer greater vocal versatility and more melodic malleability, it doesn't mean she's lost her edge.
There's still plenty of grit to her voice, as she proves on bluesy numbers like the titular opening track, "Bee Sting" and "Low Light," though she does showcase her softer side on songs like the catchy, twang-heavy "Soul Stealer," the groove-centric, sultry "Make Your Move" and the album's piano-driven bookend "Walk Away."
Devil on Both Shoulders is officially out on May 12. You can see Mayes' upcoming live shows listed below, and scroll past the tour dates to give the new album an early listen.
Tour dates:
05/08 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
05/20 Toronto, ON - Rivoli
05/21 Stratford, ON - Montforte
05/22 Peterborough, ON - Red Dog
05/23 Ottawa, ON - Irene's
05/24 Quebec City, QC - Le Bal Du Lezard
05/26 Saint Andrews, NB - Special Event
05/27 Moncton, NB - Plan B
05/28 Halifax, NS - The Seahorse
05/29 Fredericton, NB - The Capital
05/30 Montreal, QC - Casa Del Popolo
06/01 Kingston, ON - Toucan
06/02 Sudbury, ON - The Motley Kitchen
06/03 Sault Ste Marie, ON - Lop Lops
06/04 Thunder Bay, ON - Crocks
06/05 Perrault Falls, ON - Whiskey Jacks
06/06 Kenora, ON - Brew Pub
06/19-22 Driftpile, AB - North Country Fair
07/14 Saskatoon, SK - Village Guitars
07/15 Red Deer, AB - Fratters
07/16 Calgary, AB - Ironwood
07/17 Fort McLeod, AB - South Country Fair
07/18 Hinton, AB - Wild Mountain Music Fest
07/19 Edmonton, AB - Mercury Room
07/22 Jasper, AB - Jasper Legion
07/23 Spences Bridge, AB - Packing House
07/24 Vancouver, BC - Railway
07/25 Enderby, BC - Lorenzo's
07/26 Banff, AB - Elk And Oarsman
07/28 Medicine Hat, AB - Ye Olde Jar Bar
08/15 Calgary, AB - Spaghetti Western Festival