The Black Country recording artist REBECCA DOWNES who gives us the groovebumps every time she sings will release her fourth Studio album, titled: Stripped Back on 9th April 2021
Recorded during the lockdown with Steve Birkett, the pair reworked six tracks from More Sinner Than Saint and four tracks from Believe, as well as adding two more and the 2021 album Stripped Back was born.
RAW RAMP has described her sound as: authentic and potent blues … with vocals so inspiring they will open up your heart…
Of course, normal rehearsal and recording, as well as arranging, production, and engineering were compromised by the Covid emergency. So the musicians who make up her usual concert band – Neil Ablard, Nigel Darvill, Aiden Goldstraw and Vince Yarrington – contributed ‘remotely’ to the track Hurts, but the rest of the music is Steve’s. And, keeping it in the family, the album was mixed and mastered by his son, Steve Birkett Jnr.
I’m over the moon that the two new tracks can be released…
Rebecca says: “Once it was clear that gigging was some months away, we spoke and agreed that it was the opportunity to do bring this project forward and get on with it.
Then when the first lockdown eased, we did some duo online gigs and that convinced us even more that there was real scope to present these numbers in a new and exciting way that would appeal to our supporters. And I’m over the moon that the two new tracks can be released at last. I have always really loved them, but I couldn’t see how they would ever fit on one of our normal blues/rock albums.”
The final product is a laid-back yet vibrant album that showcases a range and depth in Rebecca’s voice that will come as now surprise to those who are familiar with her work, while at the same time showcasing the full range of vocal and instrumental abilities of Steve’s instrumental and vocal skills. All-in-all the recording shows that lockdown did not mean ‘freeze frame’ to this talented duo.
Pre-order here: https://www.rebeccadownes.com/stripped-back
Main image: Adam Kennedy