Is Nova Scotian funeral director-turned-songwriter Terra Spencer “the Canadian Carole King”? ‘Sunset’, her upcoming fourth solo album, makes a strong case for it. Rich with the ‘70s wood-paneled warmth of the records she discovered in her grandparents’ basement, ‘Sunset’ will make its debut in fall 2024 with a list of cross-Canada tour dates. The album features a host of Canadian stars from coast to coast performing the signature heart-charged songs that have endeared Terra to audiences and fellow artists alike.
The dozen songs illustrate Terra's writing range and startling knack for capturing intimate moments. The poignant and powerful solo piano piece “Something About Paris” was inspired by the story of a couple living through the pain of numbered days and fading memories. Halifax duo The Bombadils join Terra for the tender folk sweetness of “Valentine Blue”, a little gift for those less than enamored with the occasion. The throwback Matt Andersen co-write “Other Side of Goodbye” is rounded out here with a nod to the Memphis Horns. Matt makes one of numerous guest appearances that also include Stephen Fearing, Ian Sherwood, PIllow Fite, Ryan Cook, and Stewart Legere, whose lush vocals on “Brick and Mortar” helped propel the song to the top of the 2023 Commonwealth Song Contest out of 20,000 entries.
‘Sunset’ paints a spectrum of love from its vibrant early moments to the last light of goodbye. For two intense days of recording, Terra returned to the producer's seat in the skylit sanctuary of The Sonic Temple Recording Studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia, home of her acclaimed self-produced 2020 album ‘Chasing Rabbits’ and the well-loved baby grand piano that won her heart. The studio was heading into its own sunset, faced with moving location after more than two decades. Terra reunited with engineer and studio owner Lil Thomas and recruited some of her favorite local musicians - bassist Mike Farrington Jr., drummer Geoff Arsenault, and guitarist Tyler Messick - to explore and record live a collection of songs pulled from her stack of notebooks, adding in horns, strings, and pedal steel. She turned to her trusted friend Dave Gunning to help tie a bow on the project at the Wee House of Music in Pictou County, NS.
Terra will celebrate ‘Sunset’ with solo Canadian tour dates in September/October 2024 and a series of full-band shows close to home in Nova Scotia. True to its analog spirit, the album will first be released on vinyl and CD before being trickled out song by song on streaming services through 2025.
‘Sunset’ is a showcase of Terra’s strength as a performer and producer in addition to being a world-class songwriter, hot on the heels of her contributions to folk icon David Francey’s Juno-winning album The Breath Between. It is further proof of why Terra has been described by Ron Sexsmith as “the real deal.”
For press inquiries: terraspencermusic@gmail.com
For bookings: Ryan Heerschap ryan@ibookshows.com
