Singer-songwriter, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Victoria Langford is an accomplished musician who has weathered the rigors of classical-based school band regimes. As an adult, with little experience playing in bands, she immersed herself in-the-trial-by-fire world of playing with indie rock musicians. Yet, the most challenging music experience she’s grappled with has been writing, recording, and releasing her bravely emotive debut solo album.
Victoria’s self-titled debut album, which is due out on April 3rd, was born out of necessity to process an abusive marriage. She wrote and produced the entire album. Prior to this collection of songs, Victoria had not played guitar, sang, used recording software, nor did she consider herself a songwriter.
Victoria’s signature sensibility is best described as empowering indie pop-rock, but with the feel of the songs influenced by the grandeur, dramatic dynamics, and tender musicality of classical music. A short-lived marriage, ending in divorce, a restraining order, trauma recovery, and a time of healing with family galvanized Victoria into writing her album. It was a courageous necessity to process a painfully complex time.
Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive early listen of the new album ahead of its April 3rd release. Brimming with sprawling and dramatic chord sequences, rich wall-of-sound textures, crunchy guitars, tender impressionistic passages, and undeniable grooves, the 8-song album is a collection of ambitious and dynamic pop songs with refreshing twists and segues that recall the elegance of classical compositions. It might not be totally fair to call this chamber pop, but their is an orchestral element to it interwoven with the rock and pop sounds Victoria creatively crafts throughout each song. We hear it on songs like the impressionistic dark waltz “Coney Island” with its vigorous alt-rock, glitchy electronic shadings, classical piano motifs, sweetly soulful vocals, and rugged hip-hop beats. On other songs like “Savior” and “I Found Hell Looking For Heaven”, we hear more of a straight synth pop style with almost spoken word vocals. Throughout the album you can hear a range of influences such as Feist, Radiohead, St. Vincent, NIN, and Smashing Pumpkins.
Victoria shares her own insight on the album:
“I’ve played instruments since I was eight, but was not the girl writing songs in her bedroom in high school. I participated in other people’s projects and decided that I didn’t sing or write. But once I escaped the abusive marriage, I truly felt born again; I felt so free and my voice emerged with conviction. I finally said, ‘Screw it! I’m doing this myself.’ So for me the album is very defiant. It’s looking at abuse and saying, ‘You thought you could silence me? Think again.'”
LISTEN:
Victoria Langford’s self-titled debut is out April 3rd. For more info visit victorialangford.com.
