Ahead of an album out next month, Los Angeles singer/songwriter/guitarist DAVID HAERLE has released a series of singles and accompanying music videos. "Edendale" is out today, available on all digital platforms and on YouTube. This is the latest track and video to come off HAERLE's forthcoming album Death Valley, due out May 8.
"Edendale" first premiered on Glide Magazine, who had this to say about the song: "...a clear standout amongst the album's fifteen tracks. Bringing to mind the soft-spoken folk of Bill Callahan, 'Edendale' is a sunny morsel of acoustic folk that reflects the warm weather and blue skies of the Los Angeles neighborhood it is based on...It is enlightening and soothing to see this footage accompanying a peaceful song during a time when most of us are stuck inside away from the people and places we love." (4/1/20)
"Edendale is the historic name for the section of L.A. that is now Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Echo Park. I began living in this area at the age of 3," HAERLE shares. "For me, Edendale isn't just the physical place but a state of mind. A personal Eden. It's that internal space in our head and heart where we find peace. The song questions how we often equate achievement, approval or winning, with happiness and security. I think it's always a good idea to question any inner belief that goes something like, 'I'll be happy when/if....' or 'I can relax and be at peace when/if...' Nothing is certain in this world, so learning to accept uncertainty is a real blessing. Sometimes there is a price to be paid for the choices we make. Is it worth it? Another good question to ask. In the song's chorus, I'm referring to selling our peace of mind in exchange for false beliefs about the true nature of happiness and contentment. Here's the good news: if we find that we've gotten away from our Edendale, we're welcome back anytime we want."
"Edendale" follows two previously released tracks and videos from the new full-length, "Go Do That With Sharon" and "The Free Show"; each has been viewed over 7,000 times on YouTube.
The 15 songs included on Death Valley were selected "based on a feeling and what I thought would make a good listening experience," HAERLE explains. "Death Valley is the culmination of where inspiration took me during this period in my life. We rock pretty hard in places. We take it way down in others. I sing about renewal, how we lose our way and then find our way back. There's a lot of love and gratitude expressed on this record and hopefully people find beauty in some of what we have done."
DAVID's taken a unique path that has led to the release of Death Valley. His father Martin emigrated from Germany to pursue a dream of working in the country music industry and co-founded the independent label CMH Records (Country Music Heritage). His maternal grandparents co-owned the first full time country music radio station in Nashville, WENO. The King of Country Music, Roy Acuff, took him onstage at the Grand Ole' Opry before a full house when he was 9 years of age. After picking up the guitar at age 13, he played in a couple rock and alternative new wave bands during the 80's, before becoming a music agent at ICM. Then his father passed away suddenly and at just 24 years-old, DAVID took over the family business and has served as president of CMH Records, now CMH Label Group, ever since. Making music took a back seat to running the label, but DAVID never stopped playing guitar and in recent years, he has returned to his passion of performing and releasing original music.
