British Blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Bex Marshall has announced upcoming album Fortuna. The album was recorded at House Of Mercy Studios and Snakepit Studios in London, Produced and arranged by Bex Marshall and Nick Hunt (Dave Stewart, Boy George, Placebo, George Clinton). Fortuna will be released on CD, digital download, and streaming by Dixiefrog Records on Friday, March 1, 2024.
It’s been ten years since Bex Marshall’s last release. During that time, Bex has kept up a busy touring schedule, but was able to take a break and recruit local London musicians and friends to work with her, including Richie Stevens on drums (Tina Turner, Simply Red, George Clinton), Toby Baker on keyboards (B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Alexander O’Neil, Sinead O Connor), B.J. Cole on dobro (Elton John, Coldplay, Sting, Shania Twain, Robbie Williams), New York’s Robert Eugene Daniels on bass (sadly, he passed away a few months after his sessions with Bex) Aurora Mannola on bass, Gospel Queen Shola Adegoroye, and Danny Bryan on percussion (Taj Mahal).
Bex provides eight original tunes and two covers that blend Blues with Funk, Rock, and Americana.
Bex says:
I have been influenced by multiple artists. For me it never stops. Songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists – you name it! I grew up listening to Tina Turner. Vocally, she was my heroine. Her tone, soul, and vocal range was so versatile. Other influences include Eric Clapton’s cool guitar style, John Lee Hooker’s back porch flavour, Freddie King’s sting, Hose Feliciano’s flair, Janis Joplin’s ragtime, and Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s songwriting. I was lucky as my uncle had a stunning vinyl collection, and I was able to absorb all these relevant box ticking blues rock greats.
The album’s lyrical content touches on “the all too familiar addictions of life, from love to liquor, changes in society and bitter regret.”
Bex adds:
The album is where I am today musically and philosophically and reflective of the performer I am now. I wanted to take the hard lumps out of life, and present them back in a different light, sometimes with humor, sarcasm, or resilience but always with a shed load of tenacity. I wanted to make a record with iconic guitar sounds, heavenly funky keyboards, roots infected vocal lines with the funk in the trunk. The album is the most upbeat offering from me to date and I want to produce a show of high energy blues rock euphoria to reignite people’s mojos.
