Vermont-based singer-songwriter Reid Parsons (they/she) announces the release of their debut full-length album, Back to Back, arriving April 25th, 2025. Deeply inspired by architecture, Parsons has created an evocative and emotionally eloquent musical universe on this highly anticipated orchestral-folk record, showcasing their ability to weave elements of jazz, blues, classical, soul, and funk into emotionally rich narratives.
Today, Parsons shares the album’s title track and first single, "Back to Back." The song explores the dynamics of a relationship where physical closeness is balanced with the reality of time apart. "The song reflects an understanding and acceptance of the unique ways partners connect and coexist," Parsons says. "It celebrates the stability and comfort found in our individual strengths and the enduring nature of our bond." With its thoughtful lyrics and gently rhythmic bossa nova groove, the track exudes warmth and intimacy, encapsulated beautifully in the refrain: "It means I got yours and you got me."
“Music has always been where I can build a world to embrace all parts of myself,” Parsons explains. Their debut album, meticulously sequenced for vinyl, was tracked direct-to-tape by renowned engineer Ben Collette (Phish's Trey Anastasio, Susan Tedeschi, Sharon Jones) at Burlington’s iconic Tank Recording Studio.
Parsons is a fearless and freewheeling musician whose work veers into jazz, blues, classical, soul, funk, rock, pop, and country with reverence and grace. This vibrant patchwork is threaded together by fine song craft, a well-developed production aesthetic, elegantly expressive vocals, and impressionistic and concise lyrics.
“I strive to write from a place of simplicity. I want to leave space for interpretation, to build a room for others to process, to emote, to have their own experiences in,” she says. Parsons grew up in Moretown, Vermont, a tiny town of 1,500, and the Green Mountain State has profoundly shaped them as an artist and a person. “I am so lucky to live here and to have been raised here. The lush explosion of nature in the summer, the harsh winters, the space to breathe, and the slow pace are all part of my creative flow,” they say.
Parsons’s earliest memories are of her and her older sister belting ‘N Sync’s No Strings Attached and Christina Aguilera’s Stripped, punctuated by obsessive spells of watching the 1993 film version of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” on VHS. Family car rides consisted of her father playing the harmonica and drilling ear training exercises to pass the time. Chores were always done to an eclectic soundtrack of Lucinda Williams, Stevie Wonder, Patsy Cline, and Steely Dan.
Parsons began piano lessons at age five and picked up the saxophone a few years later, beginning a lasting obsession with blues and jazz. They taught themself guitar at summer camp, where they began writing songs. When they returned home, they began performing at the now-defunct Purple Moon Pub, known for sending off local legend Grace Potter.
Parsons’s music invites comparisons to Anaïs Mitchell, Frazey Ford, Bonnie Raitt, and Susan Tedeschi, yet their distinctive, architectural approach to songwriting remains uniquely their own. Back to Back was partially funded through a crowdfunding campaign, with the remainder supported by Parsons’s work in farming—a testament to their dedication and grassroots approach.
Parsons will perform select dates this spring in support of the album, including a hometown show at Shelburne Vineyard in Shelburne, VT, on Friday, March 28th. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit reidparsons.com.
U.S. Tour Dates
Wednesday, March 19th – Radio Bean – Burlington, VT
Friday, March 28th – Shelburne Vineyard – Shelburne, VT
Saturday, April 5th – Monkey House – Winooski, VT
Thursday, April 17th – American Flatbread – Stowe, VT
Back To Back by Reid Parsons
1. Back to Back
2. Get Out of Bed
3. Lightbulb
4. Heavy Load
5. Show Me You Love Me
6. Holiday
7. I’m On Fire
8. Figure It Out
9. Same Old Shit
10. Where Are You Now
