Today, old-school style entertainer Paul Loren releases his most profound collection of songs to date: Betwixt. The eleven song anthology traffics in a depth and brutal honesty not found in his earlier material. With an upbeat and groove-based thread that connects all the songs on the record, the native New Yorker ties together an intense lyrical territory with a blazing rhythm section that feels rearing and ready to hit the road again.
Listen to the album here: http://bit.ly/BetwixtStream
The album draws inspiration from Loren’s recent months of heartbreak, anxiety and anger. He puts the album in the context of our unthinkable year of Covid-19. Working on the new music “helped to drown out the constant sirens from ambulances I’d hear through my window every few minutes. The songs were coping mechanisms that kept my spirit afloat and helped me block out the pain for a few hours a day.”
Betwixt showcases Loren’s knack for mixing new with nostalgia, channeling songwriting icons of the 60s and 70s. Singles like the resonant “Marlena,” piano-driven “Something I Can Do,” and heart wrenching ballad “Some Folks Just Get Lucky,” combine with never-before heard tracks to tell a raw and real story. “All I Want Is Less,” an ode to getting rid of excess, sonically references the early Sun Studios recordings and soulful rockabilly that have always inspired him, while “An Evening Such As This,” inspired by the passing of the great singer/songwriter John Prine, details what it was like to navigate COVID as a musician:
“When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, so many of us musicians were left without a clear path forward. Many pivoted into new lines of work, or found creative ways to keep playing their music (and making a living) virtually. The song is really about that: that somewhere, some place, someone’s still making things—making art. That the disruption of my musical life is just a disruption of my touring and live performances—I will continue to write songs and still do what I love.”
Emotional, relatable, and timeless, Betwixt makes landfall just in time for the cozy fall months. As we make the slow return to normal, locals can catch Loren across a handful of pop-up shows, including one on October 30th on 5th Ave in Park Slope, Brooklyn outside “The Commissioner” bar. Fans further away can be sure to stream the new album while tuning into his ongoing bartending series, Cocktailin’. The album is also getting a proper vinyl release, and Paul and his band will celebrate that release with a show at famed NYC venue City Winery on February 14, 2022.
More info:
Paul Loren is a singer, songwriter, producer and consummate entertainer. A native New Yorker, Paul was raised on the rich legacy of soul, classic pop, and the Great American Songbook and in those musical idioms he feels most at home. Taking elements from early rock ’n roll, rhythm & blues and Brill Building pop, he crafts his music with an ear towards timelessness.