Sam Doores, formerly of The Deslondes and Hurray for the Riff Raff, is set to release his self-titled solo debut March 13th, 2020 via New West Records. The 13-song set was recorded in Berlin by Anders ‘Ormen’ Christopherson, in Nashville by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and in Doores’ homebase of New Orleans. Written on-and-off over the course of several years, Doores’ captivating solo debut is classic and contemporary all at once. Blending traditional southern roots, New Orleans R&B, and psychedelic landscapes, Sam Doores is a cinematic and infectious collection that reckons with heartache and loss, love and gratitude, fresh starts and, ultimately, a whole lotta change. Working in Berlin, Doores found himself collaborating with an inspiring cast of characters from all over the world assembled by the producer Christopherson, resulting in a wild international “Wrecking Crew” of sorts. The album also features the New Orleans jazz mainstays Tuba Skinny, Mat Davidson of Twain, as well as Doores’ former bandmate Alynda Lee Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff, on the duet “Other Side of Town.”
Today, Rolling Stone Country has premiered the video for the album track “Let It Roll.” They say, “As one of the principal songwriters in the Deslondes and a onetime member of Hurray for the Riff Raff, Sam Doores has helped define a New Orleans country sound that embraces swamp pop, honky tonk, R&B, and blues…Powered by an undulating church organ, snaking electric guitar, and a walking New Orleans rhythm, ‘Let It Roll’ quickly begins to mutate in more interesting, experimental ways.” The “Let It Roll” video was shot entirely on Super 8 film during the making of the album and was edited by Horatio Baltz.
Hailed as “burgeoning stars” by The New York Times, The Deslondes came together as Sam Doores was transitioning out of the acclaimed Hurray for the Riff Raff. Their singular sound mixed the gritty folk and country of old Alan Lomax field recordings with the electrified soul of early Stax and Sun Records. The group’s 2014 self-titled debut was a breakout hit, praised by NPR as “energized, elegant and new,” and their follow-up, Hurry Home, earned similar acclaim with Rolling Stone calling it “a gritty, grimy mix of early rock ‘n’ roll and lo-fi R&B.” Of his solo debut, Doores said, “Recording in a foreign environment like Berlin, I was inspired to experiment with more cinematic, psychedelic sounds, but my love for old-school New Orleans R&B, Memphis soul and rock n’ roll, Detroit Motown and gospel, doo-wop, early blues and folk music will probably always bleed into whatever I do. Recording this album was an opportunity to explore the space between all of those worlds.”
When a long-term creative and romantic relationship came to a poignant end, Doores found himself penning an avalanche of personal material that only felt right to record under his own name. “Writing those songs was my way of moving past it all and embracing the changes happening in my life,” says Doores. “That relationship ended, and then later The Deslondes decided to go on sabbatical. Those big endings were painful, but I knew that no matter how hard it was, the experience would be a positive one in the end.” He adds, “In the beginning, I thought this project was just going to be a fun way to record some songs that didn’t have a home, but in the end, it became a really important creative outlet for me during a turbulent time in my life.” The result is an album written as much for himself as for his audience. It’s the sound of heartbreak, of self-discovery, and rebirth.
Sam Doores’ solo debut will be available on Compact Disc, across Digital Retailers, and Standard Black Vinyl. Sam Doores is available for pre-order now via New West Records.
Sam Doores Sam Doores Track Listing
1. Tempelhofer Dawn
2. Let It Roll
3. Other Side of Town
4. Cambodian Rock n’ Roll
5. Windmills
6. Had a Dream
7. This Ain’t A Sad Song
8. Solid Road
9. Red Leaf Rag
10. Push On
11. Must Be Somethin’
12. Nothing like a Suburb
13. Chicago to Illinois
Photo By Sarrah Danzinger
