Canadian-born, New Zealand-based singer-songwriter Tami Neilson has released a stunning cover of Joni Mitchell's iconic song "River."
The tune holds sentimental value for the 2021 Juno-nominated artist, as she first discovered it as a teenager. Neilson was introduced to Mitchell's music by her father, influencing her development as an artist.
"I was on tour with my family band all around Canada and the US and for my birthday one year, my dad gave me the Blue album on CD, I was immediately obsessed," Neilson said in a statement. "[Blue] gave me that kind of permission and confidence to become the writer and the artist and the producer that I am today."
"River" takes on a unique meaning for Neilson, as it captures the homesickness she experienced during her first Christmas abroad in New Zealand. She explained how disorienting the heat felt after the cold of Canadian winters: "Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are flipped so it's really it's hot and it's summery, and it's so strange to be decorating your Christmas tree and in shorts and a tank top."
The evocative, folksy cover follows the release of Neilson's deluxe album CHICKABOOM! in February.
Listen to Neilson's rendition of "River" below.
The tune holds sentimental value for the 2021 Juno-nominated artist, as she first discovered it as a teenager. Neilson was introduced to Mitchell's music by her father, influencing her development as an artist.
"I was on tour with my family band all around Canada and the US and for my birthday one year, my dad gave me the Blue album on CD, I was immediately obsessed," Neilson said in a statement. "[Blue] gave me that kind of permission and confidence to become the writer and the artist and the producer that I am today."
"River" takes on a unique meaning for Neilson, as it captures the homesickness she experienced during her first Christmas abroad in New Zealand. She explained how disorienting the heat felt after the cold of Canadian winters: "Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are flipped so it's really it's hot and it's summery, and it's so strange to be decorating your Christmas tree and in shorts and a tank top."
The evocative, folksy cover follows the release of Neilson's deluxe album CHICKABOOM! in February.
Listen to Neilson's rendition of "River" below.