Today, Rainy Eyes shares “A Little Dream,” the third song released in advance of her forthcoming album, Lonesome Highway, due July 12 on Royal Potato Family. The 11-track collection was produced by Dirk Powell and features appearances by Sam Grisman, Ric Robertson and Eric Adcock among an exceptional cast of guest musicians.
On her latest single, the Norway-born, Lafayette, Louisiana-based Rainy Eyes explores the depths of a fast burning romance, while resigned to the sad realization that it's merely a moment in time and not a love made to go the distance. She sings in the refrain: "Was it all just a little dream or did you feel the oceans rise, the winds collide, when you lay by my side, or was it just me?" The track is punctuated with pedal steel contributed by the late Lafayette musician Chris Stafford who died in a car accident this past May.
"'A Little Dream' is a deceptive love story. When you feel so strongly about someone, but you question whether or not it is real or if you’re just high on the feeling. You can love someone, but that doesn’t mean they are right for you. This song takes on those big questions," explains Rainy.
On her departed friend and bandmate, Rainy continues: "It also features the late, beloved Chris Stafford on pedal steel who recently passed away. He was a cornerstone of our scene here in Lafayette, but more importantly a friend to so many. It still feels totally surreal. It’s been some rough, sad weeks of mourning and processing this heartbreaking tragedy especially here in my hometown of Lafayette. We’ll miss him and mourn him and play music in his honor."
Rainy Eyes was born and raised in Bergen, Norway. After fleeing a troubled upbringing and moving to Denmark at 18, she met and fell in love with an American free jazz musician. By 19, Rainy had eloped to San Francisco where she immersed herself in the local music community, befriending musicians like Peter Rowan, Sam Grisman and Ric Robertson.
Following the birth of her son, her marriage quickly started to fall apart. Living in a cabin in Bolinas, CA just north of San Francisco, Rainy began writing and demoing songs to cope with her heartbreak. As the relationship with her ex turned ever more untenable, she’d leave the Bay area for South Louisiana, drawn by the music and culture of the tradition-rich region. Once there, Rainy forged a collaboration with acclaimed musician and producer Dirk Powell (Rhiannon Giddens, Loretta Lynn) who encouraged her to further develop the ideas she’d been working on while in California. Together, they hunkered down in Powell's bayou studio, determined to fulfill the promise of what she’d begun. It ultimately resulted in her second studio album, Lonesome Highway, a hope-filled and assertive collection of 11 roots and Americana-based songs that present Rainy breaking cycles, trusting the universe, and allowing her higher self to lead the way.
RAINY EYES
Tour Dates
6/13 - New Orleans, LA - Chickie Wah Wah
6/22 - Gallup, NM - Levitt Pavillion
6/23 - Santa Fe, NM - El Rey Court
7/14 - Bolinas, CA - Smiley's
8/1-4 - Asheville, NC - Asheville, NC
