Nellie McKay Releasing New Album, Starring in Indie Feature

Not too long ago, Nellie McKay contributed to our long-running Ears We Trust feature, giving us a taste of what’s keeping her ears occupied. Now we’ve got a hint of what she’s been doing with the rest of her time. TwentyFourBit reports that McKay recorded her new album in Jamaica, Los Angeles, New York and the mountains of Pennsylvania, dropping her first LP composed of entirely original songs in three years. Last year’s Normal as Blueberry Pie was a tribute album featuring cover songs of latter-day actress Doris Day; on Sept. 28, Home Sweet Mobile Home hits shelves. “I have no idea how this album happened,” McKay said of the 13-track LP. “I guess I was looking for a sound to reflect our shrinking world and the bleed of culture crossing all kinds of borders.”

David Byrne, who has previously worked with McKay on a concept album, contributed support and a “guiding force” to her newest effort. In addition to the album, McKay is working on music for and starring in an independent movie called Downtown Express, in which she plays struggling New York musician Ramona. Despite her musical struggles, Ramona manages to fall for a Russian musician visiting town for a month on a Juilliard scholarship.

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