Anaïs Mitchell Announces First New Solo Album in Over a Decade
Photo by Jay Sansone
Vermont-based, Tony- and Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Anaïs Mitchell will be releasing her first new solo album in over a decade. Mitchell has shared the first single off the self-titled album, “Bright Star.” Anaïs Mitchell will be released Jan. 28, 2022, via BMG.
Having written for Hadestown, Bonny Light Horseman and Big Red Machine, Mitchell clearly has a remarkable knack for songwriting. With her wispy voice, the lyrics of “Bright Star” float above the track with undeniable resonance.
In a statement, Mitchell recalls her inspiration for the album:
During the first pandemic summer I was staying on the family farm where I grew up, in a little house that belonged to my grandparents when they were alive. I could see the stars for the first time in a long time. I wasn’t traveling anywhere, or even doing much of anything, for the first time in a long time. “Bright Star” is about looking back on years of restless pursuit and making peace with the source of that longing: the Muse, the Great Unknown, the One That Got Away—those things that motivate us that we never can touch.
The self-titled album is produced by Josh Kaufman, and includes other musical contributions from Michael Lewis, JT Bates, Thomas Bartlett and Aaron Dessner, along with string and flute arrangements by Nico Muhly.
Mitchell’s U.S. tour kicks off in January, with Europe and U.K. dates beginning in August 2022. She will be joined by players from the record and her own Bonny Light Horseman bandmates, who will have an independent set, as well.
Watch the video for “Bright Star” below, and find Mitchell’s 2013 Daytrotter session and upcoming tour dates further down, along with her forthcoming album’s tracklist and cover art. You can preorder the album here.
Anaïs Mitchell Album Art:
