PRETTIEST BLUE EP SET FOR RELEASE ON JULY 1
“The Early Mays create Appalachian-inspired songs built on deep country sensibilities, masterful singing and a sweet old-time sound.” - The Pittsburgh City Paper
“The Early Mays are exceptional storytellers, singers and musicians who craft their songs with the utmost care and attention; they’re a joy to listen to.” - Folk Radio UK
“...a really fresh take on this traditional music” - WRCT
"...a winning combination” - Americana-UK
"This is just pure classic folk." - If It's Too Loud
“Ellen Gozion and Emily Pinkerton understand their music better than many artists understand their own." - Sound Bites
Photo: Kristi Jan Hoover
LISTEN: “ON A DYING DAY”
Today, Pittsburgh-based duo The Early Mays (Ellen Gozion and Emily Pinkerton) have released
“On A Dying Day,” the latest single from their forthcoming EP, Prettiest Blue, due out on July 1, 2022. The song was written by Pinkerton, who drew inspiration from the shores of Lake Michigan, where she was raised.
“The Early Mays offer an inward-looking, heartfelt approach to Appalachia,” said For Folk’s Sake in their premiere of the track. “Restoratively vintage, their no-frills roots music brings a warmth that is often missed in raucous contemporary releases…Their vocal and instrumental chops are given ample space to impress on the reflective tune, ‘On a Dying Day,’” they continue. “Gorgeous harmonies take the forefront, painting a lyrical picture of the shores that the single is inspired by.”
“I go to the dunes whenever I can. It’s a place where I can make sense of who I am in the world, especially when things get hard,” Pinkerton told For Folk’s Sake. “I tried to make the banjo sound like rolling waves. In a similar way, the words of ‘On a Dying Day’ ‘roll’ back and forth, as the last lines of one stanza grow into the first line of the next,” she explains of the song, the structure of which she derived from Chilean folk poetry. “‘On a Dying Day’ is about finding redemption at the shore.” Its release follows lead single “The Ballad Of Johnny Fall,” a newly-composed "old-time" murder ballad that challenges the misogynistic themes of traditional Appalachian murder ballads.
LISTEN: “THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY FALL”
Somewhere on the border between old-time music and modern American songwriting, The Early Mays have built a band with harmonies that feel like home. It’s a partnership that has shared slow-burning, perfectly paired vocals for ten years—from NPR’s Mountain Stage to house concerts all over the mid-Atlantic.
From the old-time music community, The Early Mays have absorbed the culture of deep listening that’s central to playing with sensitivity. “Revivalists like us–who didn’t live and breathe Appalachian music growing up–still learn and create by ear for the most part,” Pinkerton explains. “Being able to carry hours of tunes in my head was life-changing. And there is new meaning to uncover each time you return to a field recording or slowly build a relationship with a mentor.”
That practice of deep listening–and slow, careful craftsmanship–spills over into every Early Mays performance and production as they sculpt their warm, immersive sound. The past ten years have been a steady search for musical and spiritual sustenance: for themselves and for their listeners. “Prettiest Blue is about keeping your eyes trained on something brighter, even in the midst of sadness,” reflects Pinkerton. A decade of friendship is palpable in the co-arranged songs, as well as the dedication to craft and the sustained pursuit of a rich acoustic aesthetic. You may find yourself comfortably swaying in that neo-traditional space–somewhere between old-time and songwriter sensibilities–getting a glimpse of how much these songs have been cared for.
The Early Mays will celebrate the release with a show at SongSpace in Pittsburgh on June 25th. Click HERE for show information. Be sure to follow the band at the links below for the latest news.
Painting by Ron Donoughe