[Cover photo credit to SBK]
The self-titled EP Jerome Forde has been released via Toronto’s (weewerk). Given his relative isolation in his home base of Traverse City, Michigan, Forde has become a skilled jack-of-all-recording-trades, playing each instrument on the album himself. He crafted its 10 tracks in his basement studio over a three-month period last Fall in between shifts at the local post office. New single “Sleepwalking” is out now.
Forde says:
I can’t really say that I have any process to songwriting. It’s too random and chaotic for that. I don’t think I’ve ever written a song by trying. I like the way Damien Jurado compares his songs to cats. You can’t force a cat to come to you. They come to you when they want to, and usually when you don’t expect it. I guess you could push that further and compare songs to tigers or some large predator cat. You’ll just be minding your own business, picking a few strings, when a song just pounces on you, ready to eat you whole. I’m not sure if every song is worth being devoured over, but in the moment of writing any song, I think you at least have to believe it is.
Forde is actually the first American artist to sign with Toronto indie institution (weewerk).
Forde explains:
My wife and I are big fans of the band Great Lake Swimmers, and when we were thinking about what labels to send the record to, she noticed that they’ve worked with (weewerk) for a long time. It was just one of the those things where we had nothing to lose, and I heard back almost right away from (weewerk)’s Phil Klygo who said he loved the record and wanted to put it out. I really couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Forde is beginning to expand his touring circuit beyond northern Michigan and further dates will be announced.
JEROME FORDE TOUR DATES:
April 27 :: Manistee MI @ North Channel
May 11 :: Kalamazoo MI @ The Clover Room
May 18 :: Traverse City MI @ Brew TC
May 20 :: Lake Leelanau MI @ Soul Squeeze
May 27 :: Elberta MI @ Furnace Street Distillery
May 28 :: Williamsburg MI @ Townline Ciderworks
June 2 :: Beulah MI @ Five Shores
June 10 :: Boyne City MI @ Stiggs
June 15 :: Manistee MI @ North Channel
June 16 :: Traverse City MI @ Fresh Coast
June 18 :: Lake Leelanau MI@ Aurora Cellars
June 24 :: Traverse City MI @ Blue Tractor
June 29 :: Suttons Bay MI @ Two K Farms
June 30 :: Elberta MI @ Furnace Street Distillery
July 1 :: Traverse City MI @ The Beau
July 7 :: Bellaire MI @ Fireside Lounge
July 8 :: Elberta MI @ Furnace Street Distillery
July 15 :: Boyne City MI @ Stiggs
July 20 :: Lake Leelanau MI @ 45 North
August 4 :: Elberta MI @ Furnace Street Distillery
August 12 :: Traverse City MI @ Blue Tractor
August 17 :: Lake Leelanau MI @ 45 North
August 18 :: Boyne City MI @ Stiggs
August 25 :: Traverse City MI @ Bonobo Winery
Sept 2 :: Elberta MI @ Furnace Street Distillery
