SONG PREMIERE: Colleen Orender Stuns With Sultry & Bluesy “Love Me Harder”

Nashville recording artist Colleen Orender’s new music has been called “a sultry jazz dream with pop sensibilities and a touch of James Bond” by NPR when she was part of their recent “10 Artists to Add from Nashville” feature.

A touring jazz and blues artist for decades, Orender turns venues into smoldering 1930s Mississippi juke joints. Her upcoming single “Love Me Harder” is the perfect summation of her ever-growing repertoire. Produced by Michael Davey (Martina McBride, Angie Aparo), the song was recorded quickly, with just one vocal take, showcasing an undeniable vocal prowess. Hers is a voice that brings with it an aura of familiarity – having been described as “Amy Winehouse with Julie London’s essence.”

“I grew up on the blues,” Orender recalls. “The first song I remember learning when I was about three years old was ‘Statesboro Blues’ from my dad, who was a huge blues fanatic. I knew the music of John Lee Hooker, BB King, Denise La Salle, Etta James, Johnnie Taylor, Greg Allman, and Bonnie Raitt in elementary school. I also had a deep love for Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and of course, Judy Garland was a huge influence. Later, I would fall in love with jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and my absolute fave Julie London.”

Born in Tampa, Orender began her singing career joining her grandfather’s country band at the tender age of five. Upon her arrival in Nashville, she was featured on a slew of demos produced by Tim Akers (Music Director/Keys for Prime Time Country TNN, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts). She also joined a band at Opryland which led her to opening slots for Rick Springfield and Wilson Phillips. She was part of the opening of Always Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium and has also opened for Wynnona Judd.

“At some point, I took a break from songwriting since so many projects never got lift-off. The music industry wasn’t set up to support independent artists when I first got started. Without a label it was impossible, so, I just focused on being on the road and singing the songs I loved. But songs came to me anyways. I write about my relationships and conversations I’ve had out on the road for the past 20 years. That’s where a lot of my inspiration comes from for my new music.”

While comparisons to Adele might be too easy, Orender instead conveys modern pop sensibilities with a bygone sultry bluesy sound that rekindles days of Muscle Shoals records and explosive horn sections. Glide is thrilled to premiere the boisterous “Love Me Harder” below which rewrites its own in the pocket vocals to a soundtrack of modern soul.

“When we realized we couldn’t get an entire brass/woodwind section in the studio because of the pandemic, I called Rory Hoffman and gave him an empty track with no real direction. He, of course, lit up the track with saxophones from Baritenor and gave it that classic sound in a few hours. I’m so lucky to know and work with the greatest players in the world in Nashville,” says Orender.

“I wrote this song about the endless conversations I’ve had and overheard on the road and over the years with women and men about the difference in our libidos as we age. I definitely wrote this from a light-hearted female perspective.

I’ve been listening to and singing blues and R&B music since I was in elementary school. My dad introduced me to the great John Lee Hooker and many more like him when I was a little girl. I could imagine this song on an Etta James record. I wanted to write a song that sounded like the 70s and 80s blues and R&B records I was enamored with. Like Denise La Salle, and even some of the stuff Aretha released back then. Women always gave men their business in those songs, and I wanted it to have a little bit of that vibe. I think just about any grown person can relate to these lyrics.”