Juanita Stein has written, performed, and released dozens of songs with her jangly pop band Waikiki, and the darker beast it morphed into: The Howling Bells, but the forthcoming America will mark her solo debut album.
“This record is an ode to the dark heart of America”, Stein says. “Of times gone and times to come. Dusty trails, a whimsical ’50s suburbia and the haze of the 1960s. I’ve forever idealised American life – growing up in Australia we were fed the American dream through film and television.
“The dichotomy between what was real and a dream is forever intriguing to me. The music of Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, Lee and Nancy and Patsy Cline all informed my musical sensibilities. They opened up this wide screen universe for me.”
This widescreen feeling is evident in the dusty, haunting lead single ‘Dark Horse’, which is perfectly matched with visuals from Texas, taken when Stein played at SxSW a few months ago.
The record is out on July 28. Check out ‘Dark Horse’ below.
