By LAUREN HALLIGAN
Saratoga Springs singer-songwriter MaryLeigh Roohan is ready to shout her whispers to the world.
Her band MaryLeigh and The Whisper Circle just unveiled a 10-track release entitled Skin & Bone this Friday Nov. 8 with a release show at The Parting Glass in Saratoga.
A collection of songs that deserves a double celebration, Roohan’s second CD release party will take place at The Linda in Albany on Nov. 23. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and music will begin at 8 p.m, starting with opener Cuddle Magic.
Roohan said that the two release shows will have very different environments, but each will give friends and fans a chance to hear what she’s been working on for the past several months.
A recent graduate of Skidmore college, Roohan, 22, spent her entire post-graduation summer working on Skin & Bone.
After laying low for quite some time, Roohan said she’s ready to come back full force with the big release. Between the two shows, Roohan will be touring with her live band, playing her new music beyond her home region.
Leading up to this special occasion, Roohan wrote all the songs on the CD, a process she started in 2012. Once the album was fully written, she began recording in January 2013.
The overall product doesn’t fit easily into one genre, but gives an eclectic taste of Roohan’s many different styles, all centered on an Americana country vibe. However, “It’s not all over the board in a way that’s too obvious or too much,” she said.
As opposed to her previous works, such as 2011 release The Docks, “There’s a lot more attention paid to each song in this collection,” Roohan said.
The first single off the release, entitled “Coward” was released on Sept. 13, by radio airplay of WEXT 97.7. The song has a southern-pop feel uncommon of modern artists.
“Coward” is also the first song on the full-length, responsible for opening everything up. Despite the poppy sound, dark lyrical content lies within the melodies. Roohan says she has a tendency to do this. A song about not feeling good enough for the world, “It sounds happy to the ear, but lyrically its really depressing,” she noted.
The songs that follow ease into a bluesy tone, then works in some country, folk-rock, and even a bit of Latin influence, offering a variety of pleasures for the ear. The series ends with an enlightening acoustic tune called “Baby You Should Know” that wraps up the roller coaster ride quite peacefully.
Other notable tracks include “Running,” and “Get Me Home.” The poetic lyrical content throughout is to be commended.
Playing live since the tender age of 17, Roohan grew up frequenting local Saratoga venues such as Cafe Lena, where she said she became secure in performing before a crowd. “It’s such a nurturing environment. It’s a very creative space.”
A true indie artist, Roohan is an unsigned local who said she has found it empowering take on this full-length endeavor by herself, with friends and family offering support along the way.
The Whisper Circle consists of many guest artists including Andrew Brown, Joel Brown, Jason Brown, Chris Carey, Meg Duffy, Tim Peck, Caroline Corrigan, and Nikki Heyman. The songs were recorded by J. Brown Noise, Saratoga-based producer Jason Brown, who tracks many local artists.
Modestly proud of her accomplishment, Roohan said that the album came together better than she ever thought it would. “I put a lot of love and effort into it. The people who played on it did too, and it really shows,” she said.
Skin & Bone will be available in CD and vinyl form. All vinyl purchases will include a digital download.
The album in its entirety can be heard at www.maryleighmusic.bandcamp.com.
For more information visit www.maryleighmusic.com
