Michelle Shocked Plans Trilogy of New Albums

Michelle Shocked will release a new trilogy of albums in June on her own Mighty Sound label.

Shocked will present the “JAMS Project,” a series of producer collaborations, which continues the "American Trilogy" concept of her first three Mercury albums.

The three new albums—Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, The Memphis Minnies and Baby Mine— chronicle a tumultuous time of life, including Shocked's recent divorce.

The first of these albums, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is a rock album produced by Dusty Wakeman (Dwight Yoakam, Anne McCue).

The second album, The Memphis Minnies was inspired by Shocked’s fondness of ‘30s and ’40s country blues matriarch, Memphis Minnie. Guest artists who contributed to the project include Rickie Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, Alice Stuart, Lydia Pense, Victoria Williams, Anne McCue and Janet Robin. Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams) produced the album.

And the third album, Baby Mine, is a Western-swing twist on Disney music. The album is a collaboration with Disney artist David Willardson, with whom Shocked will combine performances of painting and music.

"I never really intended to release three albums at one time," she says. "But I do tend to think in concepts of trilogies, tryptichs, trios. It seems like a complete cycle to me."

And there are three more albums right behind these, including gospel/electronica, Latin/blues and New Orleans jazz influences.

"You can't stop creative momentum," says Shocked. "When it hits, you gotta roll with it."

Shocked is set to perform at the SXSW music festival in Austin in March. She will also speak on the conference’s Artist Panel.

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