[Cover photo credit to Anna Azarov]
Alt-Folk and Pop band Rachael Sage & The Sequins have released “Canopy (Acoustic),” the third single ahead of their forthcoming album, Under My Canopy, due out this Fall. Featuring Righteous Babe Records recording artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kristen Ford, the anthem “explores radical inclusivity, non-violence, and environmental consciousness.”
Some of the song’s lyrics include: “I believe with every beating of my heart/ If the world were run by women there would be an end to war/ There would be an end to suffering at the hands of hatred’s shards/ There would be no more buttressing of the vengeance violence starts.”
Rachael Sage discusses the song, saying:
The absence of women’s voices and their active presence on the world stage is a lot of what has contributed to the violence we currently see, militarily and environmentally. Creating safety and inclusivity in times of divisiveness can be a radical and powerful act; it takes courage to stand up for justice and for our fellow human beings, and through the message of this song I am trying to inspire each of us – including myself – to boldly do that for one another even when it may be uncomfortable or go against the cultural grain to do so.
The track was Produced by Sage with Grammy nominee Mikhail Pivovarov and features Sage on lead & background vocals, acoustic guitar, and hand percussion, and accompanied by The Sequins. Members are violinist Kelly Halloran (Lainey Wilson), drummer Andy Mac (Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls), Trina Hamlin (Susan Werner) on harmonica and cellist Dave Eggar (Paul Simon), and other contributors include James Mastro on slide guitar (Jill Sobule), and guest vocals from Kristen Ford.
Under My Canopy is an album that reinvents the collection of songs of previous studio album, Canopy. Featuring new acoustic instrumentation and arrangements, Sage and her band span the genres of Americana, Pop and neo-Folk. The songs find common ground in themes of “living a purposeful and joyful life rooted in inclusiveness, equality and non-violence.”
