A Bottle of Whiskey and a Handful of Bees is the new album from acclaimed electro-acoustic composer and performer Sxip Shirey, and is set for release January 13 on VIA Records. Composed and produced by Shirey with co-production and engineering by Don Godwin and mastering by Greg Calbi, much of A Bottle of Whiskey and a Handful of Bees was created over the course of the two years that Shirey spent touring the world as performer, composer and music director of LIMBO, an explosive circus arts show for which he composed the music, played the role of “head angel,” music-directed and led the band for 425 performances. On breaks he returned to New York and worked with Godwin in the legendary studio of Martin Bisi in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and it was there that the album ultimately took shape as the non-linear story of an artist living the life of an international artist-nomad—a member of a creative community of collaborators and colleagues who intersect, perform and create together all over the world. The music boxes and harmonicas with which Shirey regularly fills his pockets are joined on the LP by cooking implements, cocktail glasses, bells, whistles and whales, among many other sources of sound.
Today Glide Magazine is presenting an exclusive sneak preview of the new video for the anthemic pop tune “Cinnamon Stick”, which features the soulful singer known simply as Xavier.
Speaking on the song, Sxip Shirey says, “I wrote this groove and was sitting in my apartment in the East Village. I loved the groove. ‘This needs some words,’ I thought and looked up at the bland wall and started thinking about Xavier. I often write for the singers I’m working with. “You don’t know the trouble I’m in / I’ve been sucking on that Cinnamon…” The words came quick. I cut a demo of me singing them and sent it to him via e-mail. Xavier wrote back immediately: ‘OMG!!’ And then… ‘You know I prefer vanilla beans…'”
WATCH:
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A Bottle of Whiskey and a Handful of Bees, is due out January 13 on VIA Records. “For more music and info visit sxipshirey.com.”
Photo credit: Krys Fox
