[Cover photo credit to Cat Palmer]

Salt Lake City singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and social-activist Talia Keys has released a cover of The White Stripes‘ song “Seven Nation Army.” For Keys, the song carries a lot of personal significance after growing up an outspoken queer female musician in a conservative part of Utah.

Keys explains:

To me, Seven Nation Army is about not giving up. If people are talking behind your back, you still push through. About fighting to exist, and then existing loud and proud. The track has always resonated with me; as I’ve pushed through barriers and biases just to be let into the music industy. I’ve been mocked, ridiculed, talked about and hated on since my career began. So to me, the song represents a battle cry – to not let anything hold me back.

Keys is also paying tribute to The White Stripes’ drummer Meg White, who inspired Keys behind the kit as “a powerful woman owning her space.”

Tracked at Man Vs. Man Music in Salt Lake City, Keys handled most of the instrumentation on “Seven Nation Army” (drums, synth-bass, guitars). She was assisted by repeat-collaborator Ryan Conger, who contributed organ swells, while Michael Sasich contributed slide guitar.

UPCOMING SHOWS:

July 5- Park City, UT @ The Cabin (with The Nth Power)

July 19- Moab, UT @ Swanny Park (with Cordovas)

August 9- Salt Lake City, UT @ Craft Lake City